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Zinedine Zidane waves at fans after he is unveiled as the new head coach of France senior men's football team.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Mention ‘France head coach’, our muscle memory will instantly direct us to the unassuming figure of Didier Deschamps. After all, he served his role with distinction for as many as 14 years, leading Les Bleus to heights only a few football heavyweights have scaled.
During a decade of dominance on the World Cup stage, the 57-year-old masterminded the creation of a second star on the royal blue jersey (2018), had a so-near-yet-so-far moment (2022) and signed off with another semifinal appearance (2026).
Deschamps may not have stayed as cool as a cucumber in the phase that preceded his walk into the sunset — France lost to Spain and England in his last two matches in-charge — but he has left a seat which will remain hot. Occupying the spot will be Zinedine Zidane.
The legendary midfielder has finally landed his dream job after years of wait, and he now has the near-impossible task of bettering or matching his predecessor’s outstanding managerial record. “This is the only job I wanted after my career with Real Madrid (his second stint ended in 2021). I have always looked at this team through the eyes of a future manager,” the 54-year-old said in his first press conference as France chief coach.