Zinedine Zidane takes charge of France: A look at his debut
Zinedine Zidane has officially been appointed head coach of the France national team, replacing Didier Deschamps. His first match will be against Turkey in September.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Author: Oleg Dubyna from Poltava, Ukraine
One of the most anticipated sagas in football has finally reached its conclusion: Zinedine Zidane has returned home. The French Football Federation has officially confirmed the 1998 World Cup winner as the new head coach of the senior national team, ending the 14-year reign of Didier Deschamps.
During a press conference held on Tuesday, the federation announced that Zidane has signed a four-year deal. The new coach is set to take up his duties fully at the start of August, spearheading a new project aimed at guiding France through the upcoming major tournaments.
Zidane's debut on the bench will be a challenging one. He is set to face Turkey on 25 September in the opening round of the UEFA Nations League group stage. There will be no easy start for the legendary Frenchman.
The schedule remains demanding for the new coaching staff. Following the opener, France will travel to face Belgium on 28 September, followed by a high-profile clash against Italy on 2 October, and a second meeting with Belgium on 5 October.