The wait is almost over. As expected, Zinedine Zidane is to be officially presented as the new coach of the French national team on Tuesday, July 28, starting at 11 a.m. Philippe Diallo, president of the French Football Federation, will announce the successor to Didier Deschamps during a press conference held at the FFF headquarters.
The FFF has not yet mentioned Zidane's name
In its press release, the Federation simply announced that Philippe Diallo would present the next coach of the French national team. The name of Zinedine Zidane It therefore does not yet appear officially. This final precaution, however, leaves little room for doubt: barring a completely unexpected change, the 1998 world champion will indeed take the helm of the French team.
The FFF Executive Committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday morning to formally approve the appointment. A press conference will then begin at 11:00 AM, featuring Philippe Diallo and the new national team coach. This meeting will bring to an end several months of anticipation surrounding a choice long considered a priority by the Federation.
A four-year contract until the 2030 World Cup
Zinedine Zidane is expected to sign a four-year contract, which will take him to the 2030 World Cup. His start date is announced for September 1st, after a month of August devoted to setting up his staff and preparing for his first training camp.
At 54, the former number 10 of Les Bleus will return to a national team whose history he profoundly marked as a player. He played his first international match on August 17, 1994, before becoming one of the key figures in the World Cup title won in 1998 and the European Championship triumph in 2000.
After his playing career, Zidane established himself as manager of Real Madrid. He hasn't coached since leaving the Spanish club in 2021, despite numerous offers and several potential destinations being discussed over the years. The position of manager of the French national team was considered his priority.
David Bettoni expected to join his staff
The first part of Zinedine Zidane's coaching staff could be revealed as early as the press conference. David Bettoni, his former assistant at Real Madrid, is expected to join him. Hamidou Msaidie should also be part of the staff, while Grégory Dupont is slated to take charge of physical conditioning.
Stéphane Planque is expected to join the player scouting team, and Dr. Hervé Collado could take over as head of the medical department. The situations of Fabien Barthez, tipped to work with the goalkeepers, and Bernard Diomède remain to be resolved. The full coaching staff should be finalized during August.
First match in Türkiye on September 25th
The first international break of the Zidane era will take place in September. The new manager will then announce his first squad before leading Les Bleus for the first time on Friday, September 25, in Turkey, for the Nations League. France will then travel to Belgium on September 28.
The French national team will then return to the Stade de France to host Italy on Friday, October 2nd, followed by Belgium on Monday, October 5th. They will also host Turkey on Sunday, November 15th at the Stade Atlantique in Bordeaux.
Zidane succeeds Deschamps after 14 years of reign
Zinedine Zidane will succeed Didier Deschamps, who was appointed in July 2012 and remained at the helm of the French national team for 14 years. The former captain of Les Bleus managed 185 matches, with 120 wins, 35 draws, and 30 losses. He won the 2018 World Cup and the 2021 Nations League, while also leading France to the finals of Euro 2016 and the 2022 World Cup.
His last match ended in defeat against England in the third-place game of the 2026 World Cup. Just days after the World Cup concluded, the French Football Federation (FFF) is preparing to usher in a new era. On Tuesday, July 28, Zinédine Zidane is expected to officially become the manager of the French national team.
