Zinedine Zidane Opens Up On Dream To Coach France National Team

Zinedine Zidane has revealed that he dreams of managing the France national team in the future, though he didn’t confirm whether he hopes to replace Didier Deschamps after next year’s World Cup.

Zinedine Zidane, 53, who guided Real Madrid to three straight UEFA Champions League titles, spoke on Sunday at an event hosted by Italian sports outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“I’m sure I’ll get back into coaching,” Zidane said. “I’m not saying it’s going to happen now, what I want one day is to coach the national team.”

Zidane’s words have once again stirred speculation about his long-expected move into international management. The former France captain has been linked with Les Bleus several times since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, and many fans see him as the natural heir to Deschamps.

Known for his calm authority on and off the pitch, Zidane’s influence on French football remains immense. His two goals in the 1998 World Cup final against Brazil sealed France’s first-ever title, and his leadership as a player carried through to his coaching career, where he built one of the most successful teams in modern European football.

“The most important thing is to have a passion for football and to want to pass on something to your players, what you have in you, deep within you,” Zidane said. “A coach has an important role in the success of his team. In my opinion his energy and desire are 80 percent of whether things go well.”

Deschamps, who led France to the 2018 World Cup title and the Euro 2016 final, is expected to step down after the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Zidane remains the bookmakers’ favourite to take over when that moment comes.

Source: Naijanews