Zinedine Zidane ends 32-year wait with winning France debut

Zinedine Zidane ended a 32-year wait for France managers by winning his first match in charge, as Les Bleus secured a difficult 1-0 victory away to Turkey in their UEFA Nations League opener on Friday.

Zidane became the first France manager since Aime Jacquet to begin his reign with a victory. Jacquet led France to a 1-0 win against Italy in Naples on 16 February 1994, with the only goal scored by Zidane’s former team-mate Youri Djorkaeff.

Since Jacquet’s first match in charge and before Zidane took over, five France managers had failed to win their opening game, according to French newspaper L’Equipe.

Roger Lemerre began with a 2-2 draw against Austria in 1998, while Jacques Santini drew 1-1 with Tunisia in 2002. Raymond Domenech also started with a 1-1 draw, against Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2004.

Laurent Blanc lost his first match as France manager 2-1 to Norway in 2010. Didier Deschamps then opened his tenure with a goalless draw against Uruguay in 2012.

Zidane’s achievement carries an added connection to Jacquet. It was Jacquet who handed him his international debut as a player, when Zidane appeared for France against the Czech Republic in August 1994.

The result therefore gave Zidane a rare distinction in France’s recent managerial history, while beginning his time in charge with an away victory in the opening round of the competition.