France set to introduce new manager on July 28 amid Zidane speculation

The French Football Federation has scheduled a news conference for July 28, where it will announce the new coach of the national team, according to a statement released on Thursday.

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Zinedine Zidane is widely tipped to succeed Didier Deschamps as the head coach of France, despite not being explicitly mentioned in the FFF's statement, with his candidacy having been the subject of speculation for some time.

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Zidane, who is 54 years old, has long been considered the leading contender for the role and has been waiting for the opportunity to take charge of the national team for several years, with his ambition to manage France never being a secret.

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Didier Deschamps' tenure as France head coach, which began in 2012, came to an end on Saturday following the team's fourth-place finish at the 2026 World Cup, paving the way for Zidane's expected appointment.

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Zidane has not held a coaching position since his second spell at Real Madrid ended five years ago, but his desire to one day manage France has remained unwavering, with the former player set to follow in the footsteps of former international team-mates Laurent Blanc and Deschamps.

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As a player, Zidane won the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European Championship, and as a coach, he has only managed one club, Real Madrid, where he achieved unprecedented success, leading the team to three consecutive Champions League titles in 2016, 2017, and 2018.