French football legend Zinedine Zidane has once again expressed his ambition to manage the France national team someday, though he stopped short of indicating whether he aims to succeed outgoing coach Didier Deschamps.
Zidane, who famously netted two goals in France’s 1998 World Cup final victory over Brazil, made the remarks during an event hosted by Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I’m sure I’ll return to coaching,” Zidane said. “I’m not saying it will happen now, but my goal one day is to coach the national team.”
The 53-year-old remains the leading candidate to replace Deschamps, who is expected to leave his post after the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Zidane, who guided Real Madrid to three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles during his managerial tenure, emphasised the emotional and motivational aspects of leadership in football.
“The most important thing is to have a passion for football and a desire to pass on what you have within you,” he explained. “A coach plays a crucial role in a team’s success, in my opinion, his energy and motivation determine about 80 percent of the outcome.”
Zidane’s last spell in charge of Real Madrid ended in 2021, but speculation continues to link him with the French national team job whenever the position becomes vacant.
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