PARIS — Didier Deschamps, the head coach of the French national football team, views Zinedine Zidane as a “natural” successor when he steps down from his position. Deschamps, who confirmed last month that he will conclude his tenure following the 2026 World Cup, has had a remarkable run since taking the helm in 2012, leading France to victory in the 2018 World Cup and taking the team to the finals again in 2022.
Prior to Deschamps’ announcement, there had already been significant speculation surrounding Zidane’s potential appointment. The consensus among fans appears to favor the former midfield legend, a perspective that Deschamps seems to agree with. “Zizou (Zidane) is a very good candidate, a natural and expected one,” he explained in a recent interview with sports daily L’Équipe. However, he acknowledged uncertainty regarding Zidane’s interest in the role. “But then again, I don’t know if he will want it.”
Zidane, 52, has been away from coaching since ending his second tenure with Real Madrid, where he achieved notable success, including three Champions League titles and two La Liga championships. The two Frenchmen have a history as teammates; they partnered in midfield during France’s triumph at the 1998 World Cup and again at the European Championship in 2000.
Reflecting on the national team’s previous performance, Deschamps noted that their journey ended in disappointment during the Euro when they lost to Spain in the semifinals. He pointed out that Kylian Mbappé faced struggles, including a broken nose, which affected his gameplay. “But at the Euro (Mbappé) wasn’t the only one,” Deschamps stated. “Most of the attacking players weren’t at their best for different reasons, and that impacted our competition.”
Amid a rocky start to his Real Madrid career, there was speculation surrounding a possible fallout between Deschamps and Mbappé, especially when he was omitted from two national team call-ups. In December, a police investigation in Stockholm that allegedly focused on Mbappé concluded without charges. Mbappé later expressed disbelief regarding the reports, asserting that he had not been approached by Swedish authorities during a follow-up interview aired on Canal Plus.
Currently, Mbappé appears to have regained his form and continues to score goals consistently. Deschamps has confirmed that he will be re-included in the squad for the upcoming Nations League matches against Croatia in March. “He will be there,” Deschamps said, reaffirming that Mbappé is deeply committed to the national team, despite the challenges he has faced. Deschamps indicated that the captaincy is not guaranteed, depending on what Mbappé wishes. “For my part, yes, he will be captain,” he added, noting the importance of their ongoing communication.
During the interview, Deschamps expressed no regrets about his decision to step down next year. “I am not tired or worn out, but I feel that I have done my time. All good things must come to an end,” he remarked, reflecting on his 25 years of involvement in the sport. He also dismissed any ambition to take over another national team but is open to pursuing opportunities at the club level in the future.
Before his successful stint with France, Deschamps led Monaco to the 2004 Champions League final and notably secured the Ligue 1 title with Marseille in 2010. “I will decide based on what is offered to me,” he said, alluding to various opportunities ahead. “There are plenty of possibilities.”
