12 November 2025
"Very soon": Zidane's brief statement ignites speculation about his coaching future
Former Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane surprised football fans with a new statement, reopening speculation about the possibility of him taking over the French national team in the future.
Zidane has not managed any team since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, after two successful stints with the club between 2016 and 2018, and then between 2019 and 2021, during which he won 11 titles, most notably three consecutive Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018, and two La Liga titles in 2017 and 2020.
During his participation in a charity event in Toulon, France, Zidane was asked about his return to coaching. He replied simply, "Very soon." He explained that he was unable to participate in the friendly match held alongside the event due to a minor thigh injury, adding, "I'm getting older, and I get injured from time to time. Now I'll focus on coaching for a while."
Zidane is considered one of the leading candidates to coach the French national team after the 2026 World Cup, succeeding Didier Deschamps, who has been leading the team since 2012.
Zidane has expressed his desire to coach "Les Bleus" on several occasions, confirming in previous statements to the newspapers Gazzetta dello Sport and L'Équipe that he feels capable of achieving great things with the national team.
Earlier, French football legend Thierry Henry hinted that the identity of the next French coach is already known, saying, "We all know who the next coach will be, and I wish him the best of luck."
Zidane and Henry share a long friendship, as they were among the most prominent members of the golden generation that led France to win the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European Championship, in addition to reaching the 2006 World Cup final.
