French football legend Zinedine Zidane has confirmed his ambition to one day coach the France national team, reigniting speculation about his potential succession of Didier Deschamps following the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking at an event hosted by Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport on Sunday, Zidane said, “I’m sure I’ll get back into coaching. I’m not saying it’s going to happen now, what I want one day is to coach the national team.”
The 53-year-old, widely regarded as one of the most accomplished figures in modern football, remains the leading candidate to replace Deschamps, who is expected to step down after next year’s tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Zidane’s coaching résumé includes two successful stints at Real Madrid, where he secured three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018. His last tenure with the Spanish club ended in 2021.
Reflecting on his coaching philosophy, Zidane emphasized the importance of emotional investment and leadership. “The most important thing is to have a passion for football and to want to pass on something to your players, what you have in you, deep within you,” he said. “A coach has an important role in the success of his team. In my opinion his energy and desire are 80 percent of whether things go well.”
Zidane, who famously scored twice in France’s 1998 World Cup final victory over Brazil, has long been linked with the national team role. His comments come amid growing anticipation over the future of Les Bleus, as Deschamps prepares to conclude his tenure after leading France to World Cup glory in 2018.
While Zidane stopped short of confirming any formal plans, his remarks have intensified speculation about a new chapter in French football leadership.