'Only job I wanted': France turns to Zidane as coach

Zinedine Zidane was appointed France coach on Tuesday following the departure of Didier Deschamps, the French Football Federation (FFF) announced.

54-year-old Zidane had long been viewed as the leading candidate for the role and stated that he had been waiting for an opportunity to take charge of the national team for several years.

He will replace Deschamps, whose tenure began in 2012 and ended earlier this month after France finished fourth at the World Cup. Deschamps guided France to 2018 World Cup glory and to the 2022 tournament final in Qatar which they lost against Argentina on penalties.  

"For me, it's an immense joy... being able to become the coach of this French team. I don't have any other words," said Zidane, who takes over on a four-year deal that runs until the 2030 World Cup that will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco.

"I'm holding myself back because I have so many emotions inside me. I'm ready for the challenge, that's what drives me today."

Zidane, who was Deschamps' teammate when Les Bleus won the 1998 World Cup on home soil, has been readying himself for the role since leaving Real Madrid in 2021.

"The France job was the only one I wanted," Zidane said at his unveiling in Paris, where he signed autographs and took photos with fans waiting outside the FFF headquarters after his appointment.

"I've had offers over these four or five years to take charge of a club and I turned them all down for the French national team."

The former France playmaker, who scored twice in the 1998 World Cup final victory over Brazil and also won the 2000 European Championship as a player, has coached only one club, Real Madrid. He famously helped Los Blancos win three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles between 2016-18 and also led them to two La Liga crowns across two different spells.  

Zidane's first game at the helm of France will come away to Turkiye in the UEFA Nations League on September 25. His first home fixture will be against Italy at the Stade de France on October 2.

France captain and all-time leading scorer Kylian Mbappe welcomed the arrival of Zidane, posting a message that read "Welcome home" on Instagram.

The 27-year-old became the first player to win the World Cup Golden Boot twice after scoring 10 goals at this summer's tournament in North America.