Zinedine Zidane expressed his overwhelming happiness after being officially appointed as coach of the French national team until 2030, stressing that leading "Les Bleus" was the only goal he had sought since leaving Real Madrid in 2021.
Zidane said during the press conference to present him as coach of the French national team: "Today is an extension of my career and a dream come true. I received many offers to coach clubs over the past years, but I rejected them all because I only wanted to coach the French national team. Since my childhood, I have dreamed of this day."
He added: "I will do everything I can to continue the success of the French national team. My only goal is to win, and I will work with all my energy to maintain this team's position among the best in the world."
The French coach made sure to pay tribute to his predecessor Didier Deschamps, praising what he had accomplished during his 14 years at the helm of the coaching staff, saying: "I thank Deschamps for everything he achieved with the national team. He wrote a wonderful page in the history of French football, and I will strive to build on what he has achieved."
Zidane was unable to hide his emotion during the press conference, confirming that he was overwhelmed with emotion after achieving a long-awaited dream, saying: "It's a great joy. I'm trying to control my emotions, but I'm very moved. Winning the World Cup in 1998 was the greatest moment of my life, and today I'm experiencing a feeling that is no less wonderful."
For his part, the president of the French Football Federation, Philippe Diallo, revealed details of the negotiations with Zidane, explaining that the first meeting between the two parties took place in February 2025, and that the French coach told him at the time: “I know how to win,” a phrase that reinforced the Federation’s conviction that he was the right man to lead the national team in the next stage.
Zidane also spoke about his coaching philosophy, stressing that he prefers attacking football, saying: "I am a lover of attacking football and scoring goals. Every coach has his personality, Deschamps has his style, but I will present my own vision while maintaining a winning mentality."
He explained that his current focus is on preparing for upcoming events, most notably the UEFA Nations League matches, noting that his priority will be to prepare the players in the best possible way before the official competitions begin.
He also confirmed that he has not yet contacted the team's captain, Kylian Mbappe, explaining that it is still too early, and that he will meet with all the players during the next training camp to lay the foundations for the new phase.
Zidane concluded his remarks by emphasizing that the coaching staff that will accompany him will be very close to the team that worked with him during his successful years at Real Madrid, with some additions, stressing that he spent the last five years watching matches and preparing for this opportunity, which he described as "a lifelong dream."
Zidane is embarking on his first experience with national teams, after an exceptional coaching career with Real Madrid during which he won three consecutive Champions League titles, in addition to two Spanish League titles. Now he begins a new challenge with a generation that includes Kylian Mbappe and a number of the most prominent stars of French football, hoping to lead the national team to success in the 2028 European Championship and the 2030 World Cup.
