Zidane, France and the time for big moves
It was the whisper that had French football holding its breath. Now it’s getting louder, sharper, with muscle. A Parisian paper reports Zinedine Zidane is now top choice to replace Didier Deschamps on the France bench after the 2026 World Cup. They’re talking verbal agreement, a handshake, a rough draft of history already on the table. No contract yet, sure — but it’s moved from “maybe” to “very likely.”
Down the corridors of the French Football Federation they’re still arguing the edges. Who fits, what guarantees, what goes in the fine print. The linchpin of Zidane’s plan is his coaching team. He’s not turning up with two assistants and a couple of tablets. He wants a proper commando — a big, varied setup that can think hard, analyse fast and work flat out. That’s the Real Madrid school: deep, well-oiled staff that actually makes tough moments easier to handle.
Zinedine Zidane will succeed Didier Deschamps as France national team head coach in the summer, with a verbal agreement already reached, sources have told @LaurensJulien.
He will officially be appointed once the 2026 World Cup is concluded for France. pic.twitter.com/w0fzvaU5cc
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 23, 2026
Odd timing. Clear intent.
The oddest thing is the timing. Talks are so advanced there’s a chance they’ll make it official even before the World Cup kicks off. Announcing a successor before the tournament? It’s like announcing the cast of the sequel before the first film’s out. Bold, risky, but it clears the air. It gives everyone a horizon, a calm handover. It also spares FFF president Philippe Diallo from getting lost in the media fog — he’s mentioned five serious candidates, but everyone can see Zidane has sprinted out in front.
Right now the momentum is obvious. Others are in the frame but barely. The suit looks tailored, pressed and ready. And in public opinion there’s almost no argument. The country’s been waiting. Feels like coming home.
Five years out, aura untouched
A comeback like this needs perspective. Zidane hasn’t coached since June 2021. Five years in modern football is a lifetime. Yet his pull hasn’t budged. Every transfer window, every dressing-room crisis, every wobble at a big club — his name pops up like reflex. He chose silence and patience. Maybe the right moment has finally come.
Coming back with France isn’t just another job. It closes a loop. It’s the emotional Everest. To take charge of the team he lifted as a player and try to lift again as a coach — that carries weight. It’s a double-layered legacy, heavy with symbolism, almost sacred for some.
A new, hot chapter
Yes, nothing’s signed. Yes, football history loves to surprise. But the line is clear. Zidane’s nearer the France dugout than he’s been for years. Lines are shifting. Balances are wobbling. The future could be fixed before the present even starts.
If it goes ahead, the work starts straight away. Build an XXL staff. Redefine the method. Marry the myth with the brutal demands of elite football. It’s an adventure fitting the man. A blank page, ready to be scrawled across with big ambition.
All that’s left is a signature.
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