French football legend Zinedine Zidane is on the verge of taking over as coach of the French national team, succeeding Didier Deschamps, in a move that is expected to be officially announced in the coming period.
According to what was revealed by the reliable Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, this move comes after the French national team's exit from the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup, following their loss to Spain by two goals to nil, thus ending the Deschamps era that extended since 2012.
Deschamps is one of the most successful coaches in the history of "Les Bleus", having led the national team to win the 2018 World Cup title, reach the 2022 World Cup final, and win the UEFA Nations League title in 2021. He has also maintained France's presence among the top contenders in major tournaments for 14 years.
In contrast, Zidane is preparing to embark on his first coaching experience at the national team level, after being away from coaching work since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, where he made an exceptional history with the Royal Club, leading them to three consecutive Champions League titles, in addition to two Spanish League titles.
Zidane's appointment is highly anticipated within French football circles, as he has been seen for years as the leading candidate to succeed Deschamps, with the hope of leading a generation of elite stars to a new stage of success.
