Former French soccer legend Zinedine Zidane is set to take on the role of head coach for the French national team following the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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ESPN reported on Monday that Zidane, 53, reportedly reached a verbal agreement with the Fédération Française de Football to replace Didier Deschamps, who has held the role since 2012.
Zidane managed the La Liga power that is Real Madrid twice (2016-18, 2019-21). For many, it has long been expected that eventually he would become the French national team head coach.
As a player, Zidane was a dynamic midfielder who won the Ballon d’Or in 1998 and was named FIFA World Player of the Year three times (1998, 2000, and 2003). He helped France win the World Cup in 1998 and finish second in 2006.
His 2006 run ended with the infamous headbutt, when he headbutted Italy’s Marco Materazzi in the chest, which eventually sent him off the pitch on a red card during the final, where France eventually lost.
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The final details to iron out before he can sign his contract are over his staff and how big he wants his assistant team to be.
In an interview with French newspaper Le Figaro, the head of the Fédération Française de Football (FFF), Philippe Diallo, admitted for the first time that he knew who Deschamps’ successor was going to be, saying, “I know who it is.”
The 2018 World Cup winners are to face Brazil on March 26 and then Colombia on March 29, 2026.
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Feature Image: Gettys
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