Zinedine Zidane will be appointed coach of France on September 1, according to the French press. The Marseille-born coach returns to the sidelines after 1,923 days of waiting since leaving Real Madrid in 2021.
Zinedine Zidane will sit on the bench again. The former Real Madrid coach, who has not managed a team since May 27, 2021, will be named coach of France on September 1, as reported by L'Equipe. The French Football Federation (FFF) will make the appointment official that day, just after Didier Deschamps plays his last match in charge of the French team.
The end of a long wait
It has been exactly 1,923 days since Zidane left the bench at the Santiago Bernabéu in his second spell. For over five years, the genius from Marseille has patiently waited for his opportunity to manage his national team. Now, that opportunity arrives after Deschamps' decision to step down following the 2026 World Cup.
The still French coach, who was crowned world champion in 2018 and runner-up in 2022, will play his last match this Thursday in the consolation final against England. Deschamps leaves as a legend of French football, with a record that also includes a Nations League title (2021) and a runner-up finish in the Euros (2016).
For Real Madrid fans, the news has a bittersweet taste. Zidane, who won three consecutive Champions Leagues (2016, 2017, and 2018) and two La Ligas (2017 and 2020) with the white club, has always been regarded as a symbol of Madridismo. His return to the sidelines, even if it is with the French national team, brings joy to those who remember him as one of the best coaches in the club's history.
An open secret
Zidane's name has been circulating for months as a replacement for Deschamps. Back in 2024, after the Euro 2024 in Germany, the Bayonne native was close to stepping down, but he decided to continue to compete in the 2026 World Cup. Now, with the tournament concluded, the transition occurs naturally.
Zidane, at 54 years old, has kept a low profile during these five years. He has been seen in the stands at the Bernabéu watching his former team and also at the World Cup cheering for his son Luca, the goalkeeper for the Algeria national team. One of his last public appearances was at the presentation of Kylian Mbappé as a Real Madrid player, alongside Florentino Pérez and Pirri.
The Marseille coach has not granted interviews during this time and has barely spoken in public. He is expected to break his silence after his official appointment, at a press conference likely to be held at the FFF headquarters in Paris.
Zidane's legacy at Madrid
Zidane left Real Madrid in 2021 with an enviable record: 11 titles over two spells, including three Champions Leagues, two La Ligas, two UEFA Super Cups, two Club World Cups, and two Spanish Super Cups. His only blemish was not winning the Copa del Rey, a tournament that eluded him both as a player and as a coach.
For the followers of the white club, Zidane is an almost mythical figure. His ability to manage dressing rooms full of stars and his tactical intelligence made him one of the most respected coaches in the world. Now, he will have the opportunity to prove his worth at the helm of a national team that, with players like Mbappé, Griezmann, and Tchouaméni, aspires to everything.
What does it mean for Spanish football?
Zidane's appointment as coach of France also has implications for Spanish football. The French coach knows the La Liga well and many of the players who play in it, such as Mbappé (Real Madrid), Griezmann (Atlético de Madrid), or Tchouaméni (Real Madrid). His experience in Spanish football could be key to getting the best performance out of these players.
Moreover, the fact that Zidane returns to the sidelines is an incentive for football fans in the Community of Madrid, who will be able to see him whenever the French national team faces Spain or plays matches on national territory.
On September 1, Zidane will be officially presented as coach of France. That day, football welcomes back one of its most charismatic figures. And Madridistas, although they lose him as their team's coach, will continue to watch him from afar with the affection of those who know that, deep down, he will always be one of their own.
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