Zidane Hints at a Comeback: Will the French Legend Return to Manage France or Pick a Club Next?

Zidane hints at coaching comeback

French football icon Zinedine Zidane, the former Real Madrid coach, has signaled that a return to management is on the horizon, with several outlets interpreting his latest remarks as a possible move to lead France. Since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, Zidane has kept a low profile, fueling ongoing speculation about a dramatic comeback that could reunite him with the national team or a top club.

He appeared at a charity friendly in Toulon on Monday night, and after the game he told reporters that he would return to work as a coach. The statement sent fans and pundits into overdrive as they weighed when and where the landmark return might take place.

Asked when he would publicly confirm his comeback, Zidane replied that it would be very soon. The 53-year-old has been out of work since leaving Real Madrid at the end of his second spell. During his time in Madrid, Zidane delivered historic successes, including three consecutive Champions League titles from 2016 to 2018 and La Liga crowns in 2017 and 2020.

Since stepping away, he reportedly turned down several lucrative offers to coach other clubs, such as Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, Manchester United, and Chelsea. Lequipe notes that his charity day remarks reopen the door to the dream of leading the France team, taking over from Didier Deschamps who has presided over Les Bleus for more than a dozen years.

Deschamps, now 57, is preparing to end a long tenure after the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. He has even signaled openness to coaching a club in Saudi Arabia for Roshn, though no decision has been made. Lequipe adds that the Saudi-based club Roshn’s Al-Ittihad has shown keen interest in Deschamps, reflecting the broader Saudi project to attract elite coaches.

The French paper further notes that Deschamps remains focused on his current duties and will decide his future after the 2026 World Cup. In a Telefoot interview around the squad announcement for November, he hinted that discussions about his next move are ongoing. He acknowledged receiving calls from Saudi clubs but declined to name the teams, saying they know his situation. He stressed that once a decision is made, he will commit fully and will not rule anything out.

Deschamps has led France since the summer of 2012, succeeding Laurent Blanc. He has overseen 173 matches with 111 wins, 32 draws, and 30 defeats, scoring 368 goals while conceding 164. His trophy haul includes the 2018 World Cup, the 2021 Nations League, plus runner-up finishes at Euro 2016 in France and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and a bronze in the Nations League in 2025 in Germany. Beyond the Saudi chatter, Deschamps faced a first setback ahead of the November camp, with an adjustment to the squad.

France will host Ukraine and then face Azerbaijan on 13 and 16 November 2025, in the Euro 2026 qualifiers to be staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Before the camp opens, Deschamps had to drop Randal Kolo Muani due to a jaw fracture and recalled Florent Thauvin, the 32-year-old winger from Lens, to the squad in Muani’s place. Muani had also missed several early-season matches with Tottenham Hotspur because of a thigh injury and had not yet scored for Spurs; Thauvin had returned to the France squad in October after a six-year absence. The update from RMC confirmed Muani’s jaw injury, and the recall of Thauvin completes the adjustment to the D of D for the locals. Keep an eye on the upcoming fixtures as the squad continues to adapt for the key qualifiers.

Punchline 1: Zidane’s tactical genius is so sharp that even his haircut doubles as a formation chart. Punchline 2: If football were stand-up, Zidane would deliver a set that lands every joke on target and still win the game.