Zinedine Zidane has been appointed as the new manager of the French national team, signing a four-year contract with the French Football Federation (FFF). The announcement was made on Tuesday morning at the FFF headquarters in Paris.
Zidane, 54, succeeds Didier Deschamps, who departed after a 14-year tenure. Deschamps' final tournament saw France eliminated in the World Cup semi-finals with a 2-0 loss to Spain, followed by a fourth-place finish after a 6-4 defeat to England in the third-place play-off.
FFF president Philippe Diallo hailed Zidane's appointment as an "exceptional moment," acknowledging Zidane's status as a "legend of French soccer" and his long-held ambition to manage the national team. Diallo also expressed gratitude for Deschamps' contributions over his extensive period as manager.
The contract duration indicates Zidane will lead France through to at least the 2030 World Cup, also encompassing the 2026-27 and 2028-29 Nations League campaigns and Euro 2028.
Zidane's first match in charge is scheduled for September 25, an away fixture against Türkiye in the Nations League. This will be followed by an away match against Belgium on September 28. His first home game will be on October 2 against Italy.