Zinedine Zidane has expressed his intention to manage the French national football team, though he stopped short of confirming whether he aims to succeed current coach Didier Deschamps.
Speaking at an event hosted by Italian sports outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport, Zidane said, “I’m sure I’ll get back into coaching. I’m not saying it’s going to happen now, but what I want one day is to coach the national team.”
Zidane, 53, remains a strong contender to replace Deschamps, who is expected to step down after the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. A legendary figure in French football, Zidane famously scored twice in the 1998 World Cup final and later guided Real Madrid to three consecutive Champions League titles during his tenure as head coach.
Reflecting on the essence of coaching, Zidane emphasized the importance of passion and personal connection: “The most important thing is to have a passion for football and to want to pass on something to your players, what you have in you, deep within you.”
He added, “A coach has an important role in the success of his team. In my opinion, his energy and desire are 80 percent of whether things go well.”
