Zinedine Zidane was always French. Irrespective of the years since he netted two goals for the 1998 World Cup final, or the Real Madrid titles he harvested. Didier Deschamps' move in January to step down as head coach of the French national team after the 2026 World Cup only rekindled what never perished: the desire to have Zizou on the French bench.
Preferably for the job, Zidane didn't hesitate to declare himself ready. And not only is he ready, but he is also impatient. "I am legit with the French national team, for which I played and stayed almost 12, 13 or 14 years as a player. It is a dream, of course, I am impatient," the former midfielder said.
France belongs to him
Zidane does not need to prove anything. As a player, he was a genius and a leader. As a coach, he was a history-maker from the outset, with a streak of titles no one could have imagined: three Champions' Leagues consecutively, two Club World Cups, two La Liga titles. And all of that in a tough, high-pressure schedule like Real Madrid.
But he hasn't played since 2021. Zidane waited since he left the Spanish club at the end of his second stint. And he did it for a reason: the French national team.
He did not leap head-first into one particular undertaking. He did not cut any corners. He waited patiently. And now with Deschamps leaving, the name finds itself once again very much at the center of the discussion.
The person everyone is waiting for
No one is more deserving of such a large assignment in international soccer. Zidane is supported by the fans, admired by the press, respected by the players, and a résumé so strong he's qualified for any vacancy. When he says he felt "legitimate," he is not only not pompous. World Cup winner as a player, world Cup winner as a coach as well, Deschamps now has another World Cup.
He will lead France to 2026, to the USA, Mexico and Canada with a world-class team and great expectations. His farewell is already arranged, though, so every game, every press conference and every decision not yet made public is part of the final chapter of the era.