He has not been coaching a professional team for the last four years. Still, French media as well as British media have suddenly become curious and excited, reporting that Zinedine Zidane might be the man to fill Didier Deschamps’ place as the coach of the senior national team after the end of the 2026 World Cup.
Deschamps has already confirmed that he would step down from the national coach’s post after the end of 2026 World Cup. Zinedine Zidane has made it clear he would “like to be the head coach of the France team one day, as he is now eying a comeback to the dugout with the Real Madrid job. The Frenchman is the only manager in history to win the Champions League thrice in succession, doing so with Real Madrid between 2016 and 2018, and later returned for a second stint. However, he has been out of work since 2021.
The chief national coach’s post will be vacant after the end of the 2026 World Cup as Didier Deschamps has already confirmed that he will say goodbye to the job after 14 years, being one of the three men to have won the World Cup as a footballer and a manager. Speaking to Festival Dello Sport last week, where he was a guest, Zidane said, “I will definitely return.” Zidane added, “Looking forward to the future, I cannot say anything exactly now. But I want to be coach the national team in the future.”
However, according to French media, another French World Cupper, Thierry Henry is also in contention for the chief national coach’s post after the World Cup ends. But Zidane’s chances of filling Deschamps’ post look bright at the moment.
