It’s done – Zidane agrees deal to replace Deschamps as France coach

France’s long-anticipated managerial transition is now effectively sealed, with Zinedine Zidane having reached a full agreement with the French Football Federation to take over the national team after the 2026 World Cup.

The decision brings clarity to one of international football’s most closely watched succession plans, confirming that Didier Deschamps’ tenure will conclude at the end of the tournament.

Zidane, a World Cup winner as a player and one of the most decorated coaches in modern club football, had made the France role his clear priority since stepping away from Real Madrid in 2021.

Despite strong interest from elite clubs and lucrative proposals from across Europe and the Middle East, the 53-year-old consistently resisted offers that would have diverted him from his international ambitions.

That commitment has now materialised into a formal agreement. According to reports in Spain, Zidane had even turned down the opportunity to immediately step into a high-profile coaching role in recent weeks, making it clear that his future was already mapped out. His stance left suitors with little choice but to pursue alternative candidates, underlining the certainty of his next move.

The former Madrid manager’s coaching pedigree is expected to usher in a new era for Les Bleus. Zidane famously guided Real Madrid to three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles, establishing himself as a calm yet authoritative figure capable of managing elite talent on the biggest stages.

His arrival will inevitably raise expectations for a France side that has remained among the world’s elite under Deschamps.

For the French Football Federation, securing Zidane represents both a symbolic and strategic triumph.

Few figures carry as much national resonance, and his deep understanding of the international game positions him as a natural successor to Deschamps, who delivered World Cup glory in 2018 and sustained consistent competitiveness thereafter.