Zinédine Zidane is the leading candidate to replace Didier Deschamps as France manager | OneFootball

Zinédine Zidane is the leading candidate to replace Didier Deschamps as France manager, according to reports from L’Equipe and Le Parisien. The 52-year-old head coach is a free agent after resigning from his post as Real Madrid manager after a trophyless season in 2021. He has not coached any club since, rejecting the chance to join premium European clubs the likes of Manchester United or Bayern Munich. Didier Deschamps’ decision to step down as France manager after the 2026 FIFA World Cup gives him the opportunity to fulfill a dream of his: coaching France.

“With France, it’s not over. Of course, I want it. I hope I’ll be one day. When? It’s not up to me. But I want to close the loop with France. Playing for France is the best thing that happened to me“, Zidane said to L’Equipe in 2022. The Real Madrid maestro reportedly never wanted to push his case to the French FA and force Deschamps out, out of respect for his former Juventus and France teammate.

Now that Deschamps has cleared the air regarding the end of his tenure as France coach, appointing Zidane would boost the popularity of Les Bleus, as far as the French FA is concerned. Le Parisien adds that there is no more obvious candidate than “ZZ”. Arsenal legend Thierry Henry could push his case after leading France’s Olympic football team to a silver medal during the Paris Games. But the outlet understands that French FA president Philippe Diallo had hoped Henry would carry on as France U21 manager until the 2025 Euros. Instead, the 1998 World Cup winner resigned from his position.

L’Equipe adds that, given the French FA is not expected to appoint a foreign coach, all signs point towards Zidane if his desire to coach France has not faded with time. The outlet reminds that Zidane has wanted the France job for ages. Now, it’s a matter of months.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval