Zidane France coach appointment is a pivotal move in the leadership of one of the world’s most talented teams, as the French Football Federation gives control of the one of the world’s most promising squads to one with elite leadership experience.
The 14-years tenure of Didier Deschamps is coming to a close as Zinedine Zidane takes over as the new manager, ending a stint that has brought the World Cup in 2018 and a runner-up trophy in 2022. The move represents a re-think from the consistent stability to the newfound ambition in the tournament – France are looking to turn steady deep flights into big trophies.
Zidane’s profile matches the expectations of performance expected. But as a leader, he has his national identity woven into his story, a championship victory he delivered for France in 1998. As a manager, he has been able to have unprecedented success with Real Madrid, winning three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles and two consecutive La Liga championships. This history has given him a proven track record to back him up, and he has experience operating under pressure and handling top tier dressing rooms.
However, Zidane is known for his flexibility and adaptability, not systemisation, on a tactical level. His main specialty is to get the best out of his players within a set system which is exactly what France have at the moment with players of world-class quality at every position.
The clear call of duty is obvious: to convert team quality into medals. France have shown consistency in their tournament form but there is a shortfall in the execution at the final stages. Zidane’s hire is thus not an experiment – it’s a goal-driven move.
