Security personnel surrounded the building as fans sporting replicas of Zidane\u2019s blue No 10 France shirt stood waiting outside. As he and Diallo opened the doors to a press-conference room packed with journalists, photographers surged towards one of French sport\u2019s great heroes \u2014 and a worldwide football icon.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday represents continuity, a dream,\u201d said Zidane, the son of North African immigrants and father to current Algeria international goalkeeper Luca Zidane. \u201cIt\u2019s the only thing I\u2019ve ever wanted to do (since Madrid)\u2026 Now it\u2019s finally happening. Naturally, I\u2019m a bit moved, but you can\u2019t tell. I\u2019m just really excited. It\u2019s a big moment for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\n Fans welcome new France coach and national hero Zinedine Zidane in Paris (Les Baroudeurs du Sport)<\/p>\n
The words carried emotion but the delivery barely registered. Zidane spoke softly, revealing little beyond a faint smile.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t have any other words,\u201d he said, sitting behind a desk with Diallo, smartly but modestly dressed in a dark blue suit and tie.<\/p>\n
The deep-rooted connection with the national team is obvious.<\/p>\n
Zidane \u2014 or \u2018Zizou\u2019, as he was known in his playing career \u2014 went from scaling the French youth age groups to starring as they won their first World Cup in 1998, scoring twice in a 3-0 victory over Brazil at the Stade de France in Paris. \u201cIt was the best thing that ever happened to me \u2014 winning with my friends,\u201d he reflected.<\/p>\n
The 54-year-old already arrives with the fans\u2019 overwhelming support.<\/p>\n
\u201cZidane is God,\u201d said Francois Santoni, a member of fans\u2019 group Les Baroudeurs du Sport. \u201cI started loving football by watching him. The best French player of all time will coach the best squad we have had for a long time. The way he ended his career was so sad. He couldn\u2019t end like that with Les Bleus. He has the love, like Deschamps, for this jersey.\u201d<\/p>\n
That bitter end came in extra time at the 2006 World Cup final, when Zidane, who had already said the game would be his last as a player at age 34, was provoked into headbutting opponent Marco Materazzi and got sent off. The match ended 1-1 (guess who scored for France), Italy won a penalty shootout 5-3, and Zidane\u2019s moment of uncontrolled rage entered sporting infamy.<\/p>\n
The irony is that he comes across as very serene. Transmitting calmness through a team, Zidane previously noted, is fundamental to his role. Even now, he remains an enigmatic presence: a strong poker face, measured and comfortable with silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs July 28, 2026 the most beautiful day of your managerial career?\u201d asked a French journalist.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d came the answer.<\/p>\n
Next question.<\/p>\n
Zidane unveiled as France manager<\/p>\n
Charlotte Harpur and Reuben Pinder<\/p>\n
Deschamps, although criticised for his team playing \u201cboring\u201d football during the 2024 European Championship, leaves behind a very solid foundation after 14 years at the helm.<\/p>\n
France showed a more fluid style than at that tournament two years ago during the recent World Cup but did not show up in a 2-0 semi-final loss against eventual champions Spain and then lost the third-place play-off to England by a freakish 6-4 scoreline.<\/p>\n
The expectation is Zidane\u2019s changes will be subtle rather than sweeping, allowing a talent-filled squad to play with more freedom.<\/p>\n
Much like his predecessor, the key to a well-oiled France machine is going to be getting a group of gifted individuals working as a collective. Deschamps did that well, and this was also crucial to Zidane\u2019s success at Madrid, where he won three consecutive Champions League finals from 2016-18 with a team boasting marquee names including Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, Karim Benzema and Luka Modric.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-1146472142.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n Zidane and his France predecessor Didier Deschamps are very different characters (Nicolas Tucat\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Such is Zidane\u2019s stature that even his commercial arrangements became a talking point on Monday.<\/p>\n
He has long been under contract with Adidas but the FFF\u2019s kit manufacturer is its big rival Nike. Zidane was clear: while Adidas will not interfere with the national team, he was \u201cnot going to leave the sponsor I\u2019ve had for 30 years\u201d.<\/p>\n
Diallo was adamant there would not be an issue: when the France manager is on international duty, he will wear Nike gear \u2014 though his choice of footwear is up to him \u2014 and when he is not, he can do as he pleases.<\/p>\n
Zidane told the president, \u201cI know how to win\u201d, during that first meeting 17 months ago but gave little away about his philosophy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI used to play as a No 10; what drives me is scoring goals,\u201d he said. \u201cI lived in Spain for 25 years \u2014 you know what that means. On the pitch, I was a natural leader. Today, I\u2019m becoming a leader through my experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
He is yet to speak to France\u2019s captain Kylian Mbappe, wanting the striker to prioritise rest after his Golden Boot-winning exploits at the World Cup, but his core coaching staff, the same group he had at Madrid plus a couple of additions, is in place.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2286086078-scaled.jpg\")
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\n Kylian Mbappe remains France\u2019s most important player (Chandan Khanna\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Neither the FFF nor Zidane seem to be concerned he has not managed in over five years.<\/p>\n
\u201cI haven\u2019t been twiddling my thumbs,\u201d said Zidane, adding he has watched more games in that time than when he did when he was Madrid coach.<\/p>\n
But, starting with a UEFA Nations League game away to Turkey on September 25, he will do things differently as eyes now turn to the 2028 European Championship hosted by England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland. He added: \u201cDidier is Didier. Laurent Blanc (Deschamps\u2019 predecessor) is Laurent Blanc. Zizou is Zizou. I\u2019m going to try to do what I know how to do. There\u2019s no rupture with the past; I believe it\u2019s a continuation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Why Spain are set to dominate every international tournament<\/p>\n
Kaya Kaynak<\/p>\n