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Rabat – Zinedine Zidane is close to returning to coaching, and this time with the role he has waited for over the years as the head coach of the French national team.
According to Spanish outlet AS, Zidane has reached a full agreement with the French Football Federation to take charge of France after the 2026 World Cup. The move would mark his first job since leaving Real Madrid in 2021.
Zidane has made his intentions for a long time. He wanted the France job and chose to wait rather than rush into another project. During that period, several clubs tried to bring him back to the bench, but he refused every offer.
Deschamps set to step aside
Didier Deschamps will remain in charge until the end of the 2026 World Cup. He already confirmed that the tournament will mark the end of his time with the national team.
That timeline opened the door for Zidane, who has built his entire post-Madrid strategy around this moment.
France will enter the World Cup as one of the favorites once again, with a squad full of top-level talent. Zidane is expected to take over immediately after the tournament, starting a new cycle with the same ambition.
Zidane has not coached since his second spell at Real Madrid ended. During his time at the club, he won three Champions League titles in a row, along with several domestic trophies.
Despite stepping away from coaching, his name continued to appear in discussions around top jobs, including a possible return to Madrid. Over time, his relationship with the club improved again after a tense exit in 2021.
Still, he never changed his main goal.
Managing France will bring a different kind of pressure. Zidane will move from club football to the international stage, where time to prepare is limited, and expectations remain high.
But for him, this is more than just another job. It is the role he has waited for, and the one he shaped his career decisions around.
Read also: Zidane Confirms Desire to Coach France
