Zinédine Zidane returns under tight security as France coach
Zinédine Zidane, 54, has been unveiled as the new head coach of Les Bleus, with his first training session scheduled for Monday at 12:00 at Clairefontaine, while the French federation has introduced security measures never seen before and kept the press at a distance.
Unprecedented safety and a free‑spirited ethos
Het Franse voetbal verwelkomt Zinédine Zidane with a set‑up that includes unprecedented safety protocols and a deliberately distant press corps. The federation promises nothing but love and freedom for his players, echoing the line “Bij ‘Zizou’ is het spelletje in z’n meest zuivere, pure vorm nog veilig.”
Voetbal with a smile and a touch of class is the slogan attached to his arrival, and “Le nouveau Zidane” is declared to have arrived. Stephan Keygnaert reported the news at 21:20, noting the atmosphere of optimism surrounding the appointment.
The British‑American poet W. H. Auden once wrote, “No hero is mortal till he dies,” a line quoted in the announcement to underline Zidane’s seemingly immortal status in French football lore.
Zidane’s personal world and football legacy
Zinédine turned 54 in June, a milestone that, according to the release, makes him “normalerwijze nog een paar decennia onsterfelijk.” His career highlights include two header goals at the Stade de France in 1998, a spectacular volley at Hampden Park in 2002 and a Panenka penalty in Berlin in 2006 – moments that turned ordinary matches into poetry in motion.
Zidane bans fashion shows to create a football bubble at Clairefontaine
As “Zizou”, he later guided Real Madrid to three successive Champions League titles in 2016, 2017 and 2018, before quietly closing the Bernabéu door in 2021 and disappearing from the public eye.
He now lives with his wife Véronique in a 1 000‑square‑metre villa in Conde Orgaz, on the outskirts of Madrid. Designed by architect Joaquin Torres – who also created homes for Madonna, Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem – the property is valued at €6 million.
The couple have four sons. Enzo (31) quit football in 2023, Luca (28) is Algeria’s number‑one goalkeeper at Spanish side Leganés, Théo (24) plays for Córdoba in the Spanish second tier and Elyaz (20) defends for Red Star FC in Ligue 2.
France celebrates Zidane debut in Nations League, Italy hears whistle
On Monday afternoon at 14.40, the first photographs emerged of Zidane on the Clairefontaine training pitch. He wore long blue Nike training trousers, a white vest and rested his left foot on the ball, smiling like a boss as he addressed his squad.