Former France great Zinedine Zidane confirms ambition to coach national team
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(From left) Former footballers Jurgen Klinsmann, Cafu, Alessandro del Piero, Zinedine Zidane and Xavi Hernandez at the official launch of the Fifa World Cup 2026 Match Ball on Oct 2.
PHOTO: AFP
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ROME – Zinedine Zidane confirmed on Oct 12 that he would one day like to coach the France national team, but did not say if he was hoping to take over from outgoing boss Didier Deschamps.
Zidane, who scored twice in France’s 1998 World Cup final win over Brazil, led Real Madrid to three Champions League titles in his only previous stint as senior head coach.
“I’m sure I’ll get back into coaching,” Zidane said at an event organised by Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I’m not saying it’s going to happen now, what I want one day is to coach the national team.”
The 53-year-old is the favourite to take over from Deschamps when the 2018 World Cup-winning coach steps down after the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
“The most important thing is to have a passion for football and to want to pass on something to your players, what you have in you, deep within you,” added Zidane, whose second spell in charge of Real Madrid ended in 2021.
“A coach has an important role in the success of his team. In my opinion his energy and desire are 80 per cent of whether things go well.”
Meanwhile, defender Ibrahima Konate has pulled out of the France squad due to a thigh injury sustained in Liverpool’s 2-1 English Premier League loss at Chelsea
He was an unused substitute during Les Bleus’ 3-0 win over Azerbaijan
“Injured in the right quadriceps during his last match with Liverpool, Ibrahima Konate has followed a treatment and protocol since his arrival this Monday but will not be able to take his place against Iceland,” the French team posted on X.
“Benjamin Pavard is called in as reinforcement.”
France, who top the group after winning all three matches, visit third-placed Iceland on Oct 13. Liverpool, second in the Premier League, return to action at home to Manchester United on Oct 19.
Les Bleus will also be without their talismanic captain Kylian Mbappe. Already suffering from a “small niggle” in his right ankle while playing for Real, the 26-year-old forward took two knocks during the win over Azerbaijan in Paris, where he opened the scoring but was substituted before the end of the match.
Mbappe “has been released to his club and will not be replaced”, the 2022 World Cup runners-up added.
His absence adds to the long list of forwards unavailable for October’s World Cup qualifiers, including Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Marcus Thuram and Bradley Barcola.
Elsewhere, World Cup holders Argentina’s Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez has also withdrawn from the squad due to inflammation in his right knee, the national team said on Oct 11. AFP, REUTERS
