Domenech backs Zidane to harness ‘exceptional’ France generation but questions media approach

Former France coach Raymond Domenech believes Zinedine Zidane has all the tools to succeed in charge of the national team – but admits he is unsure how the new manager will cope with the intensity of the media spotlight.

Philippe Diallo, president of the French Football Federation, confirmed on Tuesday that Zidane has been appointed France head coach on a four-year contract, taking him through to the 2030 World Cup.

The role marks a new chapter in Zidane’s coaching career and ends a 14-year spell under Didier Deschamps, who led France to World Cup glory in 2018 and oversaw a sustained period of success with “Les Bleus”.

Speaking to Ouest-France, Domenech, who managed the national team from 2004 to 2010, stressed that expectations around Zidane’s tenure will be enormous given the level of talent at his disposal.

“Didier Deschamps served for 14 years, and now the federation’s board has appointed someone else. I have no opinion on that,” Domenech said. “There are high expectations for the French national team because there is an exceptional generation capable of reaching the top. There is continuity; he arrives with a talented generation eager to win trophies and keep achieving.”

‘Different job’ for Zidane with national team

Domenech argued that Zidane’s track record and authority give him a strong platform, but underlined that international management demands a specific skill set distinct from club coaching.

“The essence of coaching the national team is to extract the best from the group quickly,” he said. “Zidane has this background, this experience, this reputation that allows him to get his message across.”

He added: “Experience will prove it, but we can assume he is capable of succeeding. But it is a different job from coaching [a club].”

Zidane, who enjoyed major success as a coach with Real Madrid, takes over a France side widely regarded as one of the strongest squads in world football, with pressure to compete for every major trophy over the coming cycle.

Concerns over media handling

While broadly positive about Zidane’s prospects, Domenech acknowledged question marks over how the former midfielder will handle public scrutiny around the national side.

“I don’t know how he will deal with the media, with his reserved image, and with his relationship with the players,” Domenech said. “If he gets results, his communication style will follow. The internal message is the most important. If the results don’t come, questions will be raised.”

Domenech suggested that, for Zidane, how he manages those external pressures may become as significant as his work on the training ground, given the profile of the job and the constant attention surrounding the France team.

‘The ultimate job’ – even for Zidane

Asked whether taking over the national team represents a landmark moment even for a figure as decorated as Zidane, Domenech was unequivocal about the prestige of the role.

“It is the job everyone dreams of, and the peak of any coach’s career,” he said. “It is hard to surpass the position of France coach, even if you take charge of a big club. It is the ultimate goal, and the best position.”

Zidane, a World Cup and European Championship winner as a player with France, now steps into the very job that once oversaw his final act on the international stage.

Relations between Domenech and Zidane were strained at the 2006 World Cup, where France reached the final before Zidane was sent off for headbutting Italy defender Marco Materazzi in one of the most infamous moments in the tournament’s history.

Nearly two decades on, Domenech will now watch as Zidane takes on what he describes as the pinnacle of a coaching career, charged with turning France’s “exceptional generation” into more silverware on the global stage.