Former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has reached an agreement to take over the France national team from Didier Deschamps after the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 53-year-old has been angling for the France job since leaving Madrid in 2021, and ESPN’s Julien Laurens reports that he now has a verbal agreement with the French Football Federation.
Over the past couple of years, it has been clear that Zidane’s appointment as France’s head coach was a matter of timing rather than possibility.
Deschamps has been at the helm since 2012 but has now confirmed that he will step down after the upcoming World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
His departure will bring an end to an illustrious 14-year career with the national team.
Deschamps will go down as a French legend, having led the nation to victory in the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2020/21 UEFA Nations League.
He also steered France to the finals of the 2016 European Championship and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which produced arguably the most memorable contest in the tournament’s history.
Deschamps will be determined to bow out on a high, and his side will go into the upcoming tournament as early favourites to win the title.
The transition from Deschamps to Zidane is the worst-kept secret in French football. The latter has been waiting for his fellow 1998 World Cup winner to step down, and it has taken longer than expected.
Deschamps was expected to step down after the 2022 World Cup, but he signed a new deal that came as a blow to Zidane.
Zidane has turned down several job offers since leaving Madrid in the hopes of landing the France job.
Manchester United were one of several clubs to have reached out to the former Madrid midfielder, but he only had his heart set on leading the national team.
Zidane’s appointment will be made official after the upcoming World Cup.
He would be expected to lead them through to the 2030 World Cup, although there are still a few details to iron out before he signs the contract.
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