Zidane becomes first France coach in 30 years to win debut match
Zinedine Zidane started his tenure as France manager with a victory over Turkey in the UEFA Nations League, courtesy of a Kylian Mbappe goal.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Author: Oleg Dubyna from Poltava, Ukraine
Zinedine Zidane has made a successful start as the head coach of the France national team, securing a 1-0 away victory against Turkey in the opening round of the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League group stage. The decisive goal that earned Les Bleus their first three points was scored by captain Kylian Mbappe.
This win marks a significant historical milestone. Zidane is the first France manager since 1994 to emerge victorious in his debut match. The last coach to achieve this feat was Aime Jacquet, who began his tenure in February 1994 with a 1-0 friendly win over Italy.
In the three decades since, many prominent coaches have taken charge of the French national team, yet none managed to secure a win in their opening game. This list includes managers like Roger Lemerre, Jacques Santini, Raymond Domenech, and Didier Deschamps. Laurent Blanc remains the only one in that period to suffer a defeat in his debut.
Zidane’s contract with the French national team is set to run until the conclusion of the 2030 World Cup.