Zinedine Zidane agrees deal to replace Didier Deschamps as France boss
Zinedine Zidane has reached a verbal agreement to succeed Didier Deschamps as the manager of the France national team following the World Cup.
The 53-year-old is understood to have struck a deal with the French Football Federation to take over the prestigious international role.
Deschamps has been at the helm of Les Bleus since 2012, guiding his country through a highly successful modern era.
However, the eventual appointment of his former international team-mate to the top job has been widely anticipated for several years.
Glittering managerial pedigree
The revered tactician has been out of management for nearly five years following his departure from Real Madrid in 2021.
During his initial spell at the Bernabeu, he achieved unprecedented success by winning the Champions League in three consecutive seasons.
The Frenchman masterfully handled a squad of global superstars in Spain, extracting peak performances from the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Luka Modric.
He returned for a second stint less than a year after his 2018 resignation to guide Los Blancos to the 2019-20 La Liga title.
An iconic playing legacy
Transitioning to international management offers a fitting new chapter for a man who enjoyed a legendary playing career for his country.
The elegant midfielder was instrumental in securing global glory for Les Bleus in 1998, a triumph that earned him the prestigious Ballon d’Or.
He was also named FIFA World Player of the Year on three separate occasions during his dominant era on the pitch.
His final professional appearance notoriously ended in a red card after headbutting Italy defender Marco Materazzi during the 2006 World Cup final defeat.
