Zidane Takes the Tricolore: France Turn to a Legend After Semi-Final Heartbreak

• Zidane named France head coach on a long-term deal
• Replaces Deschamps after 14 years and a World Cup semi-final defeat to Spain
• Focus turns to EURO 2028 and the 2030 World Cup with a star-studded squad

It’s official: Zinedine Zidane is back in the dugout, and this time it’s to lead his country. The 54-year-old has been installed on a long-term contract after France’s 2-0 World Cup semi-final loss to European champions Spain, stepping in for Didier Deschamps. The outgoing coach bows out after 14 years, three finals and 2018 glory—one of only three men to win the World Cup as both player and manager.

Bookmakers have reacted already—and if you’re tracking the markets, our football betting sites UK roundup shows France nudging back towards the top of the outright odds. With Zidane at the wheel, Les Bleus will carry a target on their backs from day one.

Zidane Returns to the Big Chair

Since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, Zidane’s name has hovered over every elite vacancy. His managerial CV speaks for itself: three consecutive Champions League titles, two La Liga crowns and a Supercopa, having first cut his teeth with Real Madrid Castilla before elevating the seniors. He walked once, came back, and won again—proof he can manage egos, squeeze big moments and navigate long campaigns.

As a player, he was France’s heartbeat: 108 caps, the 1998 World Cup and EURO 2000, before the infamous red card in the 2006 final drew the curtain on a gilded career. That aura hasn’t faded, and the dressing room will feel it immediately.

What It Means for Mbappé and Company

Expect clarity and control. At Madrid, Zidane’s default was a flexible 4-3-3 that tightened into a compact 4-4-2 without the ball. That balance should suit France’s embarrassment of attacking riches—give the front line freedom, keep the midfield measured and the back line protected. Above all, his man-management is elite; getting superstars to buy in is his superpower.

The brief is simple and brutal: turn near-misses into trophies. With Spain setting the continental pace, France will be judged on silverware, not style points. Under Zidane, they’ll head into EURO 2028 and the 2030 World Cup among the favourites—and rightly so. For my money, this is the bold, grown-up appointment a generational squad needed.

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