Zidane, who won three Champions Leagues with Madrid, has been linked with France, Manchester United and the USMNT since his last coaching job in 2021.
Zinedine Zidane, who has only ever managed former club Real Madrid and has not coached since 2021, now has a clear path to becoming the new man in charge of the French national team after Didier Deschamps announced he would be stepping down after 2026 FIFA. World Cup.
Didier Deschamps resigns as France coach
Deschamps, who took charge of Les Bleus in 2012, told French broadcaster TF1 that he planned to leave his current position after the expiry of his contract in 2026: “I have been here since 2012, I plan to be here until 2026 to stay. , the next World Cup, but it will end there, because it has to end at some point”.
“I have spent my time, with the same desire and passion to keep the French team at the highest level, but 2026 is all very good.”
Deschamps, a former Juventus and international teammate of Zidane, led France to victory at the 2018 World Cup and to the finals of the 2022 tournament and the 2016 European Championship. However, he has been criticized for failing to achieve more with an extremely talented generation of players. as well as for his cautious playing style.
Zidane's incredible success at Real Madrid and USMNT's rejection
Zidane himself remains one of the most successful coaches in recent history, despite not having worked in that capacity since May 2021, when his second spell as Real Madrid manager came to an end.
In less than four full seasons in charge of Los Blancos, the Frenchman won three Champions Leagues, two LaLiga titles, two Spanish Super Cups, two UEFA Super Cups and two FIFA Club World Cups.
He has been closely linked to a number of clubs, including Manchester United, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain, which he has consistently played down. Furthermore, Zidane has reportedly turned down the opportunity to become USMNT coach after the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
FFF president cautious about Zidane appointment
Philippe Diallo, the president of the French Football Federation (FFF), previously remained coy about whether Zidane could replace Deschamps, but admitted that his credentials and status make him impossible to ignore: “I am not going to get involved in this debate. Didier still has two years left on his contract and to show respect for him, his staff and his players, talking about who will replace him is out of the question for the time being.
“He (Zidane) has achieved great things with Real Madrid. He has already won the biggest trophy, the Champions League, several times, so he has shown his skills there.”
Taking over as France coach has always seemed Zidane's most likely next step and after years of speculation, there will be no obstacles in his way after the 2026 World Cup.
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