French football legend Zinedine Zidane is reportedly set to return to the national team setup as the new head coach of France, with reports claiming he has agreed to a deal that will run until June 2030.
According to the reports, the former Real Madrid manager will be officially unveiled in the coming days as France begins preparations for the next major international competitions, including the 2027 UEFA Nations League, Euro 2028 and the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
If confirmed, the appointment would mark Zidane’s return to management after several years away from the touchline.
The former midfielder has been without a coaching role since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, despite regularly being linked with some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Zidane enjoyed huge success during his two spells as Real Madrid manager. He guided the Spanish giants to three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018, becoming one of the most successful coaches in the club’s history.
His reported move to the France national team has been viewed as a natural step for the 1998 World Cup winner, who has long been considered a leading candidate to manage Les Bleus.
Zidane’s connection with French football runs deep. As a player, he was the face of France’s greatest generation, leading the team to their first World Cup triumph in 1998 and winning the UEFA European Championship in 2000.
The potential appointment would also bring a new era for France following Didier Deschamps’ long spell in charge. Deschamps guided France to World Cup glory in 2018 and reached another final in 2022, establishing the country as one of the strongest teams in world football.
With a squad filled with young talents such as Kylian Mbappé, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Michael Olise and William Saliba, Zidane would inherit a team capable of competing for major honours.
His expected long-term contract would give him enough time to build his own football philosophy and prepare France for future tournaments.
