According to a Spanish press report, Frenchman Zinedine Zidane, the former coach of Real Madrid, is close to returning to the world of coaching, specifically by taking over the leadership of the French national team after the end of the 2026 World Cup.
Zinedine Zidane left his position as coach of Real Madrid in the summer of 2021, and has not coached any team since then.
In a previous statement, the legend Zidane said: “Soon I will return to training.”
The Spanish newspaper “AS” stated that Zidane is close to achieving his ambition to coach the “Roosters” national team, after the current coach of the French national team, Didier Deschamps, announced his intention to end his career with the national team at the end of the 2026 World Cup. During the past period, Zidane rejected many distinguished coaching offers, waiting for this opportunity.
The report indicated that Zinedine Zidane’s agents studied some offers from major Saudi clubs.
Zidane has an impressive coaching record with Real Madrid, having won three consecutive Champions League titles with the team.
Zidane coached Real Madrid in two periods, and is considered one of the historical coaches who led the team, achieving 11 titles with them.
Will Zizou succeed Deschamps?
The newspaper “L’Equipe” indicated that Zidane’s statements after the charity match that was held last Monday open the door to achieving his biggest dream of leading the French national team, succeeding the current coach, Didier Deschamps, who has been in charge for more than 13 years.
Deschamps, 57, is preparing to end his long career with the “Roosters” at the end of the team’s matches in the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States of America, Canada and Mexico.
For his part, Didier Deschamps, the coach of the French national team, opened the door to the possibility of working as a coach for one of the Saudi Professional League teams “Roshen.”
The newspaper “L’Equipe” revealed that Al-Ittihad Club, which includes the experienced French duo, Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante, is very interested in contracting the coach of the Roosters, Didier Deschamps.
The newspaper added that the French national team coach is still focused on his duties with the national team, and will decide his future after the next World Cup 2026, which will be held in the United States of America, Canada and Mexico.
It reported that Didier Deschamps again sparked speculation about his destination during an interview with the “Telefoot” program, broadcast on TF1, on the sidelines of the announcement of the French national team’s list last Thursday for the month of November.
The program indicated that the French national team coach said: “I have received some contacts from Saudi clubs, but I will not mention names, but they know my situation.”
The French program added: “Once the decision is made, I will not back down from it, that is clear, I will be available after the specified deadlines, and I do not rule out anything.”
A long journey for Deschamps
Didier Deschamps has been the coach of the French national team since the summer of 2012, succeeding his colleague Laurent Blanc, with whom he won the 1998 World Cup title as a player, which was hosted by his country.
The 57-year-old coach led his country’s national team in 174 matches, during which he achieved 112 victories, compared to 32 draws and 30 defeats. The team scored 372 goals compared to 164 goals in its net.
At the level of titles and awards, Didier Deschamps achieved with the French national team the 2018 World Cup and the 2021 European Nations League, in addition to the silver medal of the Euro 2016 European Nations Cup in France and the silver medal of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and the bronze medal of the 2025 European Nations League in Germany.
The French national team is preparing to face Azerbaijan today, Sunday, in the sixth round of Group D, as part of the European qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States of America, Canada and Mexico.
Before the start of the France national team camp, coach Didier Deschamps was forced to exclude Randal Kolo Muani, the Tottenham Hotspur English striker, on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, until the end of the current season.
According to the “RMC” network, Randal Kolo Muani suffered a broken jaw, which proved to be stronger than initially expected, so Deschamps decided to call up veteran Florian Thauvin, a 32-year-old Lens player, to replace Muani in the Roosters list.
Randal Kolo Muani also missed several matches at the beginning of the current season due to a thigh muscle injury, and has not scored any goals with Tottenham so far, while Thauvin returned to the French national team in October, after a long absence of more than 6 years.
The French national team has qualified for the FIFA World Cup finals for the 17th time in its history, and the eighth in a row, including four times under the leadership of coach Didier Deschamps in the 2014, 2018, 2022 and finally 2026 World Cups.
