Zinedine Zidane turns down ‘many offers’ to land France job on four-year deal

Zinedine Zidane says he rejected “many offers” in recent years because managing France was the only job he wanted, after being confirmed as the new head coach of the national team.

The French Football Federation (FFF) announced on Tuesday that the 54-year-old will succeed Didier Deschamps as manager of Les Bleus, bringing the World Cup-winning captain back to the national set-up in the top role.

At his unveiling, Zidane made clear that he had effectively put his club career on hold while waiting for the France post to become available.

“I received many offers over the last few years and I turned them all down in order to coach the France national team,” he said. “Nothing is greater than the French national team.”

The former Real Madrid coach has signed a four-year contract, which will keep him in charge at least until the 2030 World Cup.

“After Real Madrid I wanted only one job, and that was to coach France,” Zidane added.

Zidane targets continued success with Les Bleus

Zidane, who lifted the World Cup with France in 1998, thanked the FFF hierarchy for handing him the role.

“I thank the French Football Federation and the executive committee for their trust in me,” he said. “I am fortunate to be coaching this team, and I will work to keep achieving success with it.”

“I will give everything I have, and I am very excited to start the real work,” he continued.

Zidane has been out of management since leaving Real Madrid in 2021 after his second spell in charge of the Spanish giants. He previously coached Real Madrid Castilla and served on the senior staff before stepping up as first-team manager.

During his time at the Santiago Bernabeu, he won three Champions League titles, two La Liga crowns, two UEFA Super Cups, two FIFA Club World Cups and two Spanish Super Cups, and was named the world’s best coach on two occasions.

First test away in Turkey

Zidane’s first match as France head coach will come away to Turkey in late September, in the 2026-2027 UEFA Nations League.

He takes over a side that has been among the world’s most consistent performers under Deschamps, who stepped down after more than a decade in charge.

Zidane paid tribute to his predecessor, saying: “My greetings to Didier Deschamps, and I thank him for everything he has done for the France national team.”

End of an era for Deschamps

Deschamps’ final game as France manager was the third-place play-off at the recent World Cup, where his team were beaten by England.

The former France midfielder had been appointed in 2012, replacing Laurent Blanc, and went on to enjoy one of the most successful international coaching careers of the modern era.

He guided France to the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, then to World Cup glory at Russia 2018, before reaching the final again at the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

Between those global campaigns, Deschamps led Les Bleus to the UEFA Euro 2016 final on home soil, where they lost to Portugal, and oversaw victory in the 2021 UEFA Nations League.

Zidane now inherits a squad shaped by Deschamps’ long tenure and charged with maintaining France’s place at the top of the international game, with the next World Cup cycle already on the horizon.