French media simultaneously confirmed that Didier Deschamps will conclude his journey as the national team head coach after the 2026 World Cup third-place match on July 18.
Deschamps will close a journey of more than a decade leading “Les Bleus”. The person chosen to succeed him is none other than legend Zinedine Zidane. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano used his familiar phrase “Here we go” to confirm the negotiations are completed.
The 57-year-old strategist was appointed to lead “Les Bleus” 14 years ago, in the context of the French team needing reconstruction after many upheavals. Under his guidance, France quickly returned to a top position in the world with a pragmatic, disciplined, and effective style of play.
Deschamps’s biggest mark is the 2018 World Cup championship in Russia. Four years later, he continued to take France to the 2022 World Cup final before securing a position in the top 4 strongest teams at the 2026 World Cup. These achievements help Deschamps become one of the most successful managers in French football history.
Zidane is expected to continue Deschamps’s success. After a period of reaping a series of titles with Real Madrid, most notably 3 consecutive Champions League championships, Zidane promises to bring a breath of fresh air to “Les Bleus”.
The transition from Deschamps to Zidane is seen as a historical milestone for French football. A glorious era closes, making way for another icon of the hexagon nation’s football with expectations to continue leading the national team to conquer new heights.
