Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
French football legend Zinedine Zidane has reportedly signed a long-term contract to become the new head coach of the French national team, with the deal keeping him in charge until June 2030. The development was announced on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, by renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, who confirmed that the agreement is complete. "Zinedine Zidane has signed as the new France coach until June 2030. The story has been confirmed as Zizou will be unveiled as the new head coach in the next days — back to work with France," Romano wrote on social media. He also used his trademark phrase, "Here we go," to signal the completion of the deal.
According to Romano, the verbal agreement between Zidane and the French Football Federation (FFF) has been in place since November 2025 and has never been in doubt. The 54-year-old is expected to lead Les Bleus in the 2027 UEFA Nations League, the UEFA Euro 2028 tournament, and the 2030 FIFA World Cup. Zidane, who has been out of coaching since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, has long been considered the leading candidate to succeed Didier Deschamps. Deschamps, who has managed France since 2012, is widely expected to step down following the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup campaign. His final match in charge was the third-place play-off defeat to England.
During his time at Real Madrid, Zidane established himself as one of football's most successful managers, guiding the club to three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018. He also won two La Liga titles, two Spanish Super Cups, two UEFA Super Cups, and two FIFA Club World Cups. The 1998 World Cup winner has repeatedly expressed his desire to one day manage the national team, making the reported appointment a widely anticipated move within French football.
As of the time of filing this report, the French Football Federation had yet to issue an official statement confirming Zidane's appointment. However, Romano described the agreement as completed, and Zidane is expected to be officially unveiled in the coming days. Reports indicate that Zidane has already finalised his technical staff, with some sources suggesting that former France goalkeeper Fabien Barthez could be part of his coaching team.
Zidane's appointment marks his first managerial role at the international level. He is expected to lead a young and ambitious French squad that has reached five semi-finals in the last six major tournaments but has not won a trophy since the 2021 UEFA Nations League. The new coach will be tasked with restoring Les Bleus to the pinnacle of world football. The contract is part of a long-term project aimed at rebuilding the team, with Zidane expected to have a full four-year cycle to prepare for the 2030 World Cup.
Zidane's reported salary is not yet known, but his predecessor Didier Deschamps earned approximately €3.8 million per year. Zidane's first major challenge will be the UEFA Nations League in 2027, followed by Euro 2028 and the 2030 World Cup. While the FFF has yet to make an official announcement, Romano's confirmation has been widely reported by major news outlets, including The Sun Nigeria, The Punch, Daily Post, and TNT Sports.
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