France's new direction under Zidane after Deschamps exit

At a bustling press conference in Paris, the French Football Federation announced Zinedine Zidane as the new head coach of Les Bleus, ending years of speculation and replacing Didier Deschamps, who stepped down after France finished fourth at the 2026 World Cup.

Didier Deschamps departs after a 14‑year spell at the helm of Les Bleus. His tenure produced World Cup glory in 2018 and a final appearance in 2022.

Zinedine Zidane, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, captained France to both World Cup and European Championship triumphs during his playing career. The 54‑year‑old former midfielder brings that winning pedigree to his new role.

Zidane’s coaching résumé includes guiding Real Madrid to three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles and two La Liga crowns across two spells. Those achievements underline his experience at the highest club level.

His first assignment will be steering France through the Nations League before turning his focus to qualifying for EURO 2028. The schedule offers an early test of his tactical approach.

The squad already features world‑class talent such as Kylian Mbappé, Aurélien Tchouaméni and William Saliba, providing a strong foundation for the new coach. Their presence reinforces France’s status as a leading football nation.

The French Football Federation confirmed the appointment, making the 54‑year‑old’s first senior national team role official and marking a new chapter for the national side. The announcement closes a period of speculation surrounding the job.