Will Zinedine Zidane become France’s next head coach? Didier Deschamps makes his feelings clear
France national team manager Didier Deschamps backed Zinedine Zidane to succeed him as the head coach of the Les Blues.
Follow Us
France national team manager Didier Deschamps backed Zinedine Zidane as a 'natural' successor to his position (via Daily Mail)
France national team manager Didier Deschamps backed Zinedine Zidane as a ‘natural’ successor to replace him. Any potential replacement will happen after the end of the 2026 World Cup. The 56-year-old manager will end his 12-year-long association with the Les Blues next year.
A World Cup winner with France, both as a player and as a coach, Didier Deschamps has successfully managed the Les Blues side since 2012. Deschamps replaced former France teammate Laurent Blanc after the Euros 2012 tournament. He has since then been in-charge of the national side. Deschamps has the team to a FIFA World Cup triumph in 2018, as well as to another WC final, in 2022.
Earlier this year, Didier Deschamps announced his intention to step down as the France national team manager. Speculation has already begun regarding who would replace the 56-year-old in the France dugout. Ex-Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has emerged as a possible successor, owing to the Frenchman’s brilliant record in-charge of the Los Blancos.
🚨🇫🇷 Didier Deschamps: “Zinedine Zidane as next France head coach? Well, he’s a very good candidate”, told L’Équipé. pic.twitter.com/up8e0cE4nQ
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 13, 2025
Deschamps himself backed Zidane to be a ‘very good candidate’ to succeed him next year. Highlighting the mutual respect that the two Frenchmen have between each other, Deschamps added that he would love to hand over the baton to the three-time UCL winning manager next summer.
Zizou [Zinedine Zidane] is a very good candidate, a natural and an expected one. But then again, I don’t know if he will want it.
Didier Deschamps on Zinedine Zidane (via L’Equipe)
However, Zidane has been selective in terms of his next job, and it remains to be seen what lies ahead for him. Meanwhile, Didier Deschamps additionally specified that his departure from the France national team does not mean that he is retiring from management. The 56-year-old might consider a future with a club in the French Ligue 1, with PSG emerging as a possible destination.
Didier Deschamps confirms Kylian Mbappe’s return to French national team
France national team head coach Didier Deschamps confirmed that Kylian Mbappe would be recalled to the side. The Real Madrid star will return for the upcoming matches next month. It comes after the 26-year-old was surprisingly absent from France’s last two encounters.
There were reports that Kylian Mbappe considered stepping away from international football. This came after he was spotted partying in France, while the national team competed. However, the Real Madrid forward dismissed the rumors. France head coach Didier Deschamps additionally confirmed that the ex-PSG star is set to make a return, after having missed out the previous matches due to personal issues.
Of course, he will be there. Why wouldn’t he be?… But he will be there, if nothing happens to him between now and then. He is very attached to the French team.
Didier Deschamps on Kylian Mbappe (H/T GOAL)
Mbappe, despite having experienced a slow start to life at the Bernabeu, has now regained form. He has scored 23 goals in 35 matches for the club. He will join the French national side in its upcoming Nations League quarter-final encounter against Croatia.
Stay Updated!
Siddhartha Roy
(773 Articles Published)