Zidane reiterates desire to coach French national team

Former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has once again expressed his ambition to manage the French national team in the future.

Speaking at the Festival Dello Sport in Trento, the France legend reiterated his long-standing desire to take charge of Les Bleus.

With current head coach Didier Deschamps expected to step down after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Zidane is widely regarded as the natural successor.

The 52-year-old has been without a managerial role since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, but his next move has long been a topic of speculation, particularly regarding the France job.

“I will definitely return to coaching,” Zidane said, as quoted by Gianluca Di Marzio. “I don’t know what the future holds for me, but one of my goals is to coach the French national team. We’ll see.”

Zidane, who famously captained France to World Cup glory in 1998 and a European Championship triumph in 2000, has previously turned down several club offers while waiting for the right opportunity, one that many believe could soon arrive with Les Bleus.

Anthony Nlebem

Head of Sports at BusinessDay Media, a seasoned Digital Content Producer, and FIFA/CAF Accredited Journalist with over a decade of sports reporting.Has a deep understanding of the Nigerian and global sports landscape and skills in delivering comprehensive and insightful sports content.