Arabic version: زيدان يبدأ حقبة جديدة مع فرنسا بعد انتظار طويل

According to BBC News, Zinedine Zidane will become France manager this summer, succeeding Didier Deschamps after the 2026 World Cup. The appointment, announced on Tuesday, marks the first new face on the France touchline in 14 years. Zidane’s four-year deal begins next month, while his full coaching team is due to be announced a few weeks later.

At his unveiling in Paris, the former Real Madrid manager said he had rejected several offers over the past four or five years because managing the national team was his sole ambition. “The national team is the only thing I wanted,” Zidane said. He acknowledged that leading a national side would be new to him, but added: “I’m not scared. This is what I wanted.”

Zidane offered limited detail on his tactical plans, saying he needed to meet the players before explaining them. He said he intended “to do things differently” but stressed there would not be a complete break from Deschamps’ work. The former France midfielder also highlighted his focus on attacking football, saying: “What motivates me is the game, it’s scoring goals.”

France’s players and supporters reacted positively to the appointment. Kylian Mbappe wrote “Welcome home” on Instagram, while former France and Bordeaux team-mate Bixente Lizarazu called it “a great day for French football”. Zidane’s first international break will include a trip to Turkey, two matches against Belgium and a game against Italy in Paris. His homecoming at the Stade de France against Italy is set to open the new era.