Zinédine Zidane is officially the new head coach of the French national team. The perfect excuse to scroll back through the archive.
For five years, Zinédine Zidane turned down every offer, clubs, millions, all of it. Now it's clear why: the 54-year-old is officially the new head coach of the French national team, on a contract until 2030. We're taking this news as an opportunity to browse through the archives.
Zidane in blue: moments that became football history
Zidane belongs to that rare group of players whose presence radiates off every photo. Whether holding the World Cup in 1998, the European Championship trophy in 2000, the Ballon d'Or, or simply in a portrait: few players have managed to combine elegance and coolness quite like Zizou.
Those are exactly the images circulating again right now. Because their protagonist is returning to Les Bleus, this time as head coach.
Zidane as France coach: the dream job, five years in the making
Zidane hadn't taken charge of a team since leaving Real Madrid in 2021. By his own account, he turned down every club offer because he was waiting for this one position, even an offer from Saudi Arabia reportedly worth €100 million, according to L'Équipe. „There is nothing bigger than the French national team," he said at his unveiling in Paris.
He succeeds Didier Deschamps, who led Les Bleus for 14 years, won the World Cup with them in 2018, and stepped down after the 2026 World Cup by his own choice. With Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise, Zidane inherits a squad that, in his own words, makes him dream.
He'll take charge for the first time on 25 September in the Nations League against Turkey, with Euro 2028 and the 2030 World Cup as the next big targets. As a player, he won the World Cup in 1998 and the Euros in 2000 with France; as a coach, he won three Champions League titles in a row. Guess who's back.
