Zinedine Zidane looms as Deschamps era ends for France

Zinedine Zidane is back in the frame as Didier Deschamps edges toward the exit of the France dugout.

France’s two-time World Cup-winning manager is set for a bittersweet farewell after a string of underwhelming displays. On 15 July 2026, Les Bleus crashed out of the European Championship quarter-finals 3-0 to Germany, a result that sealed Deschamps’ fate. The loss marked France’s worst major-tournament defeat since Zinedine Zidane’s red-card exit in the 2006 World Cup final.

What happened?

France’s 0-3 drubbing by Germany on 15 July 2026 ended their Euro 2026 campaign in brutal fashion. The defeat left Didier Deschamps with no choice but to step down after eight years in charge. The French Football Federation confirmed his departure would be formalized within days, ending a reign that included World Cup glory in 2018 and a Nations League title in 2021.

The rout in the quarter-final exposed France’s frailties. Kylian Mbappé, the captain, limped off with a knock midway through the first half. Germany piled on the pressure, with Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala combining for two goals inside the opening 20 minutes. The defeat was France’s heaviest in a knockout tie since Zidane’s infamous headbutt on Marco Materazzi in Berlin 20 years earlier.

Why it matters for Zinedine Zidane

Zinedine Zidane’s name now swirls around every vacancy in European football. The former Real Madrid boss, who quit Madrid in 2021 after three Champions League wins in five years, remains the continent’s most sought-after coach. His absence from the dugout has lasted five years-longer than his entire playing career at Real Madrid.

Sources close to the FFF admit Zidane tops the shortlist to replace Deschamps. The 44-year-old’s reluctance to manage since leaving Madrid is well documented. Yet the lure of lifting another trophy for his country may finally tempt him back. France’s next generation-Mbappé, Eduardo Camavinga, Warren Zaïre-Emery-needs a leader who can harness their talent without the baggage of Deschamps’ conservative style.

What comes next?

The FFF will hold emergency talks this week to name an interim boss. Current France legend-turned-pundit Lilian Thuram has already ruled himself out of the running. Zidane, meanwhile, remains in Madrid, overseeing his son Enzo’s development at Castilla. His return to club management is also on the table, with Bayern Munich and Chelsea circling after recent managerial churn.

For France, the road ahead is rocky. The Euro 2028 qualifiers kick off in September. Without Deschamps’ rigid structure, the team risks drifting into chaos. Zidane’s appointment would bring instant credibility-but also immense pressure. The French public still remembers his 2006 final exit. This time, he’d need to finish what he started.