The wait is finally over for fans who've been dreaming of seeing Zinedine Zidane back on the touchline. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Zizou has a verbal agreement to become France's next coach after the 2026 World Cup. This is the move he's been waiting for all along.
Zidane will take over from Didier Deschamps once the current boss completes his final project at the World Cup in two years. For those keeping track, that means Zizou will have been out of management for five years since leaving Real Madrid in June 2021. That's a long time to sit on the sidelines.
But here's the thing - he wasn't just waiting around. Multiple clubs came knocking with tempting offers, but Zidane turned them all down. He had one specific goal in mind: coaching Les Bleus. Now that dream is about to become reality, pending the official contract signature.
Why This Move Makes Perfect Sense
Zidane isn't just any coach taking over the French national team. He's a legend who wore the France jersey 108 times as a player. He led them to World Cup glory on home soil in 1998, won Euro 2000, and reached the 2006 World Cup final. The connection runs deep.
His incredible success at Real Madrid - winning three consecutive Champions League titles - only made fans want him more. There's virtually no opposition to his appointment. Everyone in France seems to agree: Zizou is the right man for the job.
The Pressure is Real
Taking over France comes with massive expectations. Deschamps leaves big shoes to fill, having won the 2018 World Cup and reached the 2022 final. Zidane will be expected to at least match those achievements.
The mission is crystal clear: win another World Cup and capture a European Championship. For bettors, France's odds for future tournaments will likely improve once Zidane officially takes charge. His track record of success and ability to manage star players could make Les Bleus even stronger favorites in major competitions.
This appointment could reshape international football's landscape. France already has incredible talent coming through, and with Zidane at the helm, they'll be the team everyone wants to avoid in tournament draws.
