Zinedine Zidane: 'One of my goals is to coach the French national team'

Cameron Smith

• 12 Oct 2025 11:08 CDT
• 3 min read

News

Zinedine Zidane has officially confirmed his desire to become the manager of the France national team.

The 53-year-old has been heavily linked with the France job since stepping down as Real Madrid boss in May 2021 and he has now fuelled speculation that he could replace Didider Deschamps in the role.

Zidane has only ever managed Real Madrid during his coaching career, but he has now set his sights on returning to the dugout with his nation.

“I will definitely return to coaching,” Zidane admitted to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio at the Trento Sports Festival.

“Me at Juventus? I don't know why it didn't happen. I always have him in my heart, because he gave me so much. In the future, I don't know, one of my goals is to coach the French national team. We'll see.”

Deschamps’ current contract as the France manager is due to expire after the 2026 World Cup and he has already confirmed that he will step down from the role following the conclusion of the tournament.

The 56-year-old has been in the role since 2012, guiding his nation to one World Cup triumph and three major championship finals, and Zidane is the clear favourite to be appointed as his successor next summer.

Zinedine Zidane’s managerial record

Zidane was appointed as the Real Madrid boss in January 2016 following a spell as the head coach of the club’s reserve team and he enjoyed an immensely successful first stint in the Santiago Bernabeu dugout.

He guided Los Blancos to three consecutive Champions League titles from 2016 to 2018, while he also won La Liga in 2017.

He resigned following the 2017-18 season, but was reappointed nine-and-a-half months later after disappointing spells under Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari. Zidane won La Liga in his first full season back at Real Madrid, before resigning for a second time following a trophyless campaign in 2020-21.

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