"Zinédine Zidane gears up to assume the role previously held by Didier Deschamps as leader of the French national football team, a position that players have reportedly aspired to work with him."
In the world of French football, speculation is rife about the potential successor to Didier Deschamps as the coach of the national team, Les Bleus. Philippe Diallo, the president of the FFF, has yet to make a decision, but he has confirmed that a decision will be made after the upcoming World Cup.
One name that has been circulating is Zinedine Zidane, the legendary former player and current manager of Real Madrid. Jacques Bungert, president of the Fondation du Football, could potentially serve as a bridge between Diallo and Zidane. Bungert, a well-known French football agent, has a friendly and professional relationship with both Diallo and Zidane, and has previously acted as an intermediary between the two in their professional football engagements.
Deschamps was not present at the celebration, as he was attending the Club World Cup final in the United States. The celebration, which took place on July 12, was a grand affair, with a padel tournament, 5x5 matches, public entertainment, and a private concert by Canadian-Algerian singer Zaho. Notable attendees included Paul Pogba, Michel Platini, Laurent Blanc, Alain Boghossian, Vincent Candela, Fabien Barthez, Christian Karembeu, Emmanuel Petit, Bernard Diomede, and Aimé Jacquet. Zidane was accompanied by his friend Christophe Dugarry during the celebration.
Zidane has been observing the new generation of players and inquiring about personalities through his network, including those in the current entourage of the Blues. It is reported that he has a good connection with Kylian Mbappé, and many players reportedly dream of working with him. However, neither Diallo nor Zidane have confirmed if they have been in contact yet.
Thierry Henry declined an offer to coach the France women's team and instead accepted the job with the Espoirs, who reached the final of the Paris 2024 Olympics. It is worth noting that Zidane does not seem to have many competitors for the job, but Diallo appreciates Thierry Henry. Marc Keller, the president of Strasbourg and a member of the FFF executive committee, could potentially play the role of matchmaker.
Diallo has praised Zidane for his contributions to French football and his success with Real Madrid. It is clear that Zidane is preparing for a possible appointment as the successor to Deschamps at the end of the next World Cup. Only time will tell if this speculation becomes a reality.
