Zidane begins new era with France

Harry Archie September 22, 2026

Zinedine Zidane is set to take charge of France for the first time this week as the former Real Madrid coach begins a new era with Les Bleus.

Zidane, 54, replaced Didier Deschamps in July after the latter spent 14 years in charge of the national team. His first match will be against Turkey in the UEFA Nations League on Friday.

The appointment marks Zidane’s return to coaching after leaving Real Madrid in 2021. During his two spells at the Spanish club, he won the Champions League three times in a row between 2016 and 2018.

Zidane has already named his first France squad, bringing in several new players as he begins to shape the team for the future.

Liverpool defender Jeremy Jacquet, Como midfielder Lucas Da Cunha, Rennes striker Esteban Lepaul, Inter Milan midfielder Andy Diouf and Toulouse goalkeeper Guillaume Restes are among those included for the first time.

Kylian Mbappe remains captain under Zidane. The Real Madrid forward said working with Zidane was like “something out of a movie”, recalling that the French great once invited him to Real Madrid’s training ground when he was a teenager.

Zidane has said he wants France to play attractive, attacking football while maintaining balance within the team.

“You will get to see how I see football,” he said after announcing his squad. “Playing good football is what gets me going.”

France will face Turkey and Belgium away in the Nations League before Zidane takes charge of his first home match against Italy at the Stade de France on October 2.

His main long-term targets will be Euro 2028 in Britain and Ireland and the 2030 World Cup in Morocco, Spain and Portugal.