Zinedine Zidane appointed France coach on four-year deal

The long wait is finally over. Zinedine Zidane has officially taken charge as the new head coach of the France national football team, signing a four-year contract.

French Football Federation (FFF) President Philippe Diallo introduced Zidane as Didier Deschamps' successor at a press conference at the federation headquarters in Paris. Diallo said he first contacted Zidane a few weeks after Deschamps announced his decision to step down following the 2026 World Cup.

At the start of the press conference, Zidane expressed his support for firefighters battling a devastating wildfire in southwestern France. He also congratulated Didier Deschamps on his long and successful tenure.

Speaking about his future plans, Zidane said that despite being away from coaching for five years, he had turned down offers from several clubs and national teams. His goal, he said, was singular: to take charge of the France national team.

"After my experience at Real Madrid, I received many offers. But I turned them all down because my target was only the France national team. This was the only job I wanted. Working with this team and keeping them on a winning path is now my biggest task," he said.

Zidane also described his first day as France coach as the best moment of his coaching career, saying, "Today is the happiest day of my coaching life."