Zidane's Quiet Comeback: France's Next Head Coach Revealed
20 February 2026
Zidane Poised for France Comeback
French football legend Zinedine Zidane is close to returning to management after five years away since leaving Real Madrid on May 27 2021.
Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano reports that Zidane has reached an informal agreement with the French Football Federation to take the role of head coach of the France team once the 2026 World Cup ends.
The current France coach Didier Deschamps has signaled his departure, saying he will step down after the World Cup in the summer of 2026.
Deschamps recently said he feels an exceptional sense of calm about this plan and that he will not be involved in the upcoming Nations League.
Zidane is expected to officially take the helm after the tournament which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, as France prepare for a tough Nations League group including Italy Belgium and Turkey.
The World Cup will be in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and France will aim for a strong showing with a new era under Zidane shaping the nations approach in Europe and beyond.
Punchline 1: If Zidane's plan had a GPS, it would constantly say recalculating, because genius never goes in straight lines.
Punchline 2: If France wins, remember it might be the hat on the bench that runs the show; sometimes fashion precedes tactics.
