Zidane: I dream of coaching the French national team!

French football legend Zinedine Zidane has expressed his strong desire to coach the French national team after the 2026 World Cup, stressing that the position represents his life's dream. During an event organized by Adidas, his official sponsor for years, Zidane, 52, said: "I feel qualified to coach the French national team. I played for them and spent about 12 to 14 years there, and it's definitely a big dream for me... I can't wait to achieve it." Zidane is considered a leading candidate to succeed current coach Didier Deschamps, who has been in charge of the national team since 2012 and led them to the 2018 World Cup title in Russia and a runner-up spot at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where they lost on penalties to Argentina. Deschamps, Zidane's former midfield teammate, had previously announced his intention to leave his position after the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Despite his absence from coaching since the end of his second stint with Real Madrid in 2021, Zidane remains one of the most successful coaches of the modern era, having led Los Blancos to three consecutive Champions League titles and two La Liga titles. All eyes are now on the post-2026 era, where a new chapter in Zidane's career could begin, this time as head coach of the national team, with whom he made history as a player.