- Ex-Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane is reportedly set to return to management as the next France national team coach after the 2026 World Cup
- Current manager Didier Deschamps is expected to step down, ending a 14-year tenure that included a World Cup triumph in 2018
- Zidane previously stated he would only return to coaching for Real Madrid or the French national team
Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane has been heavily linked with a high-profile return to football management, almost four years after leaving Real Madrid.
The French football icon ended his second spell at Real Madrid in 2021 following a disappointing season without silverware. Despite his underwhelming final campaign, Zidane’s managerial legacy remained intact with three consecutive UEFA Champions League triumphs between 2016 and 2018, along with La Liga titles in 2017 and 2020.
Since stepping away from coaching, Zidane has reportedly been selective about potential offers, turning down approaches from top clubs like Manchester United, Bayern Munich, and Juventus. However, new reports from several Paris outlets suggest that Zidane could finally make his long-anticipated return, not to a club, but to the France national team.
The French outlet claimed Zidane is the front-runner to succeed Didier Deschamps as France’s manager, with the transition expected to take place after the 2026 World Cup.
Deschamps, who has led the national team since 2012, is reportedly set to step down following the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Deschamps, one of football’s most decorated figures, guided France to World Cup glory in 2018 and a runner-up finish in 2022. As only the third man to win the World Cup both as a player and a coach, his departure would mark the end of an era for French football.
Zidane, who has long been linked with the France job, reportedly sees the role as one of the few positions capable of tempting him back to management.
Spanish outlet Marca had also previously claimed Zidane would only return to coaching if offered a chance to lead either Real Madrid or the French national team.
Speaking in an interview with L’Equipe in 2022, Zidane expressed his desire to return to management but emphasised his selective approach. He insisted he would only take roles where he believed winning was realistic, citing language barriers and club philosophy as potential obstacles to other opportunities.
“When I was a player, I could choose almost any club. As a coach, there aren’t 50 clubs I can go to, if I go back to a club, it’s to win. That’s why I can’t go anywhere,” Zidane explained.
While he admired the Premier League giants, Zidane admitted his limited command of English would pose a significant challenge.
With Deschamps reportedly preparing to announce his exit, the stage now appears set for Zidane to assume the role of head coach.
Should the move materialize, Zidane’s appointment would mark the beginning of a new era for Les Bleus, potentially led by one of the greatest footballing minds of his generation.
As the 2026 World Cup edges closer, fans eagerly await official confirmation of Zidane’s next chapter.
Zidane’s former team sets new record with UEFA Super Cup
Previously, TheRadar reported that Real Madrid wasted no time in reaffirming their European superiority with a 2-0 victory over 2024 Europa League winners, Atalanta, in the UEFA Super Cup.
Kylian Mbappé, who made his much-anticipated debut on Wednesday, August 14, in Warsaw, Poland, found the back of the net after 68 minutes into his Real Madrid career.
