Zinedine Zidane reveals he turned down several club offers for 'dream' France job after being appointed to replace Didier Deschamps
Updated 28/07/2026 at 12:02 GMT+1
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Zinedine Zidane has replaced Didier Deschamps as France head coach following the country's semi-final exit at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The former Real Madrid boss revealed that he turned down several club offers to wait for his "dream" job with France.
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Zidane is widely considered one of the country's greatest-ever players, earning 108 caps for the national team and winning the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.
The 54-year-old has not held a managerial position since ending his second spell with Real Madrid in 2021.
The former France captain has been appointed on a four-year deal, meaning he will lead his country into both Euro 2028 and the 2030 World Cup.
Zidane told the French Football Federation's official website: "I’ve often said it: there’s nothing greater than the French national team.
"So it’s a joy and obviously a great source of pride to become the manager of this French national team. It’s also a responsibility.
"I want to thank president Philippe Diallo, the executive committee, and the French Football Federation for their confidence and acknowledge the 14 years of service from Didier and his staff. I also have a special thought today for all my coaches.
"Needless to say, I have high ambitions for the French national team."
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Since leaving Madrid in 2021, Zidane has been linked with a number of club roles, including Manchester United.
But he says he turned down several opportunities as he was willing to wait for his "dream" opportunity to lead France.
Zidane said: "I've had offers during these four to five years since I stopped, to take charge of a club, and I refused them all for the French national team, because the French national team, for me, is the only thing I wanted to do after my career, after my experience with Real Madrid.
"It was the only thing I wanted to do, to coach this French team. I knew it as a kid, I started in the youth ranks, I crossed every step, up until reaching the senior team, which is the pinnacle. There are no other words."
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Zidane reveals he rejected club offers to wait for France job
Video credit: SNTV
Deschamps announced in January 2025 that he would step down following this summer’s World Cup.
The semi-final defeat against Spain ended his 14-year reign in charge of France, having become the country's longest-serving manager.
The 57-year-old guided France to their second World Cup triumph in 2018, having captained them to their first in 1998.
Deschamps also took France to the final in 2022, when they lost to Argentina on penalties, before their run to the last four this summer.
Despite reaching the final in 2016 - losing on home soil to Portugal - France did not enjoy the same success in the European Championship under Deschamps, bowing out in the last 16 in 2021 and in the semi-finals in 2024.
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Didier Deschamps guided France to World Cup glory in 2018
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Zidane's first managerial appointment was with Real Madrid Castilla in 2014, spending two campaigns with the reserve side before moving to the first team in January 2016.
The Frenchman won three successive UEFA Champions League crowns with Madrid between 2016 and 2018, becoming the first coach to achieve the feat, while the club were La Liga champions during his first full campaign.
He resigned in the summer of 2018 before returning the following March for a second spell in charge, during which he won another La Liga title.
Zidane stepped down following a disappointing 2020/21 campaign, as Madrid lost out to Chelsea in the Champions League and to local rivals Atletico Madrid in the domestic title race.
His first competitive fixture in charge of France will be a Nations League game away against Turkey on September 25.
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French football’s president, Philippe Diallo, said: "(This is) a source of immense pride. It marks the meeting of a legend in the history of Les Bleus, who has become one of the most decorated and respected coaches of his generation, and a team with rare potential, driven by the highest ambitions.Â
”Zinedine Zidane’s exceptional career is built on talent, hard work, humility, and excellence. These are values ​​shared by the French national team, and which we want to uphold together, with ambition, over the next four years.” Â
Zidane's most memorable contribution to France as a player was his pair of headers in the 3-0 win over Brazil in the 1998 World Cup final.
However, after being part of the team that won Euro 2000, his career ended on a sour note, when he was sent off for headbutting Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup final, which France lost to Italy on penalties.
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