Report: Zidane finally accepts new coaching job five years after leaving Real Madrid

Legendary midfielder Zinedine Zidane is set to become the next head coach of the French National Team.

After years of intense speculation, latest reports confirm a full verbal agreement between the legendary "Zizou" and the French Football Federation (FFF) to take the reins of Les Bleus.

This monumental appointment marks Zidane’s return to the dugout nearly five years after his departure from Real Madrid in 2021. While the agreement is fully done, the change of command will not be immediate. The transition is scheduled for July 2026, immediately following the conclusion of the FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Zidane will succeed Didier Deschamps, signaling a new era for the 1998 and 2018 world champions.

Zidane’s transition from the pitch to the touchline remains one of the most successful in the sport's history.

As a player, he is a cornerstone of French history, famously leading the nation to the 1998 World Cup title on home soil and earning the Ballon d’Or that same year.

His playing career ended in 2006 as a World Cup runner-up in a final forever defined by his dramatic red card.

After retiring, Zidane turned his focus to coaching, with Real Madrid CF remaining the only senior club he has managed to date.

Across two spells (2016–2018 and 2019–2021), he secured 11 major trophies, including an unprecedented three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles.

Zidane turned down several high-profile offers from Europe's top clubs to fulfill his dream of coaching the French national team.

The 53-year-old will now look forward to managing some of the best players in the world, including Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, Rayan Cherki, and others.