Zinedine Zidane has revealed he deliberately rejected a string of managerial offers over the past five years because he was determined to wait for the opportunity to lead France.
The former Real Madrid boss was officially unveiled as the new head coach of the French national team after succeeding Didier Deschamps, whose long spell in charge came to an end following the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Zidane has signed a four-year contract and described the appointment as the only coaching role he ever wanted after leaving Madrid.
Addressing reporters during his first press conference, the 1998 World Cup winner said he never lost sight of his ambition to manage Les Bleus.
“In the last four or five years, I had offers to join a club and I refused them all for the France national team. This job is the only job I wanted to do after my career with Real Madrid.
“I’ve always seen the France national team in the view of a fan – but also as a future manager. That’s the reason why I didn’t take on a new club team.
“I told myself that the only thing I wanted to do after Real Madrid was the French national team. I kept myself away from those teams. I had great projects, and could have done them for two or three years.”
Zidane explained that his hopes became more realistic after Deschamps announced in early 2025 that he would leave the national team following the next World Cup.
“But since Deschamps’ decision at the start of 2025 to step down after the next World Cup, the next day I was very animated to say I wanted to be his successor.
“So I met the president in February 2025 and it’s led us to here.”
Deschamps leaves behind one of the most successful eras in French football. During his 14-year tenure, France lifted the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the 2021 UEFA Nations League, while also reaching the finals of Euro 2016 and the 2022 World Cup.
French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo said Zidane immediately convinced him he was ready for the challenge.
Recalling their first meeting, Diallo said Zidane confidently declared:
“Mr President, I know how to win.”
Diallo added that those words convinced him the former midfielder possessed both the ambition and confidence needed to guide France into its next chapter.
Zidane arrives with an impressive coaching résumé of his own. During two spells at Real Madrid, he captured two La Liga titles and famously guided the Spanish giants to three consecutive UEFA Champions League crowns between 2016 and 2018.
Despite succeeding one of France’s greatest managers, Zidane insisted he is not planning to copy Deschamps’ methods.
“The team’s run and style of play were magnificent. I was there in person and had a great time, just like the other fans. There are no complaints about how things went.
“Honestly, we’re going to do things differently. Didier Deschamps is Didier Deschamps. Laurent Blanc was Laurent Blanc. Zizou is Zizou. I’m going to try to do what I know how to do.
“It’s not a clean break, either. I want to maintain continuity so that the French team keeps winning.”
The 54-year-old also dismissed suggestions that five years away from the dugout had left him underprepared for international management.
“There’s no worry. It’s a completely different job from club coaching. It doesn’t scare me.
“I’ll have a balance between my personal life and the French national team. It suits me perfectly. It’s a different kind of job, and I have no issues with that.
“I didn’t sit around twiddling my thumbs for five years. I watched more matches than when I was coaching Real Madrid. I saw a huge number of them. I watched the French national team a lot, and there is great potential.”
Zidane will now attempt to extend France’s recent success as he prepares the team for the next cycle of major international tournaments, beginning with this year’s UEFA Nations League fixtures.
