Zinédine Zidane Appointed France Coach Amid Reflections on Early Coaching Struggles

Zinédine Zidane, the former French midfielder, has been officially named head coach of the France national football team. The 54‑year‑old will lead Les Bleus through the 2026 World Cup and up to the 2030 tournament, taking over from Didier Deschamps. Zidane described the appointment as a “dream” during a press conference at the French Football Federation headquarters.

The announcement revisits Zidane’s coaching path, which began with a difficult spell in 2014‑15 as manager of Real Madrid Castilla in Spain’s third division. His side lost five of its first six matches, a rough start that contrasted sharply with his later successes. After improving at Castilla, Zidane was promoted to the Real Madrid first‑team in January 2016 and soon guided the club to multiple Champions League titles, underscoring his rise from early setbacks to elite management.