Zidane to take over as France coach this summer

2026-03-24 - 03:11

As a player, Zinedine Zidane won the 1998 Ballon d’Or and was a three-time Fifa World Player of the Year. (EPA Images pic) PARIS: French football icon Zinedine Zidane has agreed to take over his national team’s head coaching duties following this summer’s Fifa World Cup, ESPN reported Monday. Zidane, 53, reportedly reached a verbal agreement with the Federation Francaise de Football to replace Didier Deschamps, who has held the role since 2012. Zidane, who managed La Liga powerhouse Real Madrid for two stints, has long been expected to eventually become the skipper for France. As a player, the dynamic midfielder won the 1998 Ballon d’Or and was a three-time Fifa World Player of the Year. He helped France win the World Cup in 1998 and finish second in 2006. He was infamously sent off during the final of the latter World Cup when he headbutted Italy’s Marco Materazzi in the chest.