Zidane set to return as France manager

Zinedine Zidane will succeed Didier Deschamps as France national team head coach in the summer, with a verbal agreement already reached between the former Real Madrid star and the Fédération Française de Football (FFF), sources have told ESPN.

Didier Deschamps' departure from the France national team after 14 successful years has been the worst-kept secret in French football, and Zidane, who finished his second stint as Los Blancos manager in 2021, has long been destined for the role.

At 53, Zidane had been waiting for his fellow 1998 World Cup winner to leave for him to take the job.

He has had to wait longer than he first thought he would, but he will officially be appointed once the 2026 World Cup is concludes for France.

The last detail to iron out before he can sign his contract is over his staff and how big his team can be.

In an interview with French newspaper Le Figaro published on Sunday, the head of the FFF, Philippe Diallo, admitted for the first time that he knew who Deschamps' successor was going to be.

"I know who it is", was his answer. He didn't reveal Zidane's name, but sources have told ESPN that it will be him.