Zinedine Zidane’s expected appointment as France coach has encountered an unexpected political obstacle, with proposed legislation threatening to restrict how much the French Football Federation can pay its employees.
The former Real Madrid manager remains the clear favourite to replace Didier Deschamps, who confirmed more than a year ago that he would step down after the 2026 World Cup.
Deschamps’ reign has not quite ended, however. France still have a third-place play-off against England before his 14-year tenure formally concludes.
Zidane has not coached since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, but reports have consistently identified him as Deschamps’ likely successor. FFF president Philippe Diallo has said he knows who the next coach will be without publicly revealing the name.
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Proposed law creates salary problem
The obstacle emerged from a French bill concerning the organisation, management and financing of professional sport.
A joint committee of senators and members of the National Assembly agreed on July 8 that the annual gross salaries of senior officials and employees at delegated sporting federations should generally be limited to €450,000.
According to L’Équipe’s report on the potential Zidane contract, the figure is based on the maximum remuneration available to the chair of certain state-owned public companies.
The measure would apply to the FFF and therefore cover the national-team coach and potentially some members of his staff.
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However, the salary limit has not yet become law. The joint committee has agreed on the wording, but the complete bill must still be formally approved by both houses of parliament and published in France’s official journal.
Government could approve an exemption
The proposed legislation does not represent an absolute ban on salaries above €450,000.
The FFF could request an exemption from France’s sports ministry, allowing it to offer Zidane a significantly larger package. L’Équipe reports that such approval is considered likely if the federation asks for it.
Without an exemption, the ceiling would reportedly be close to ten times lower than the total remuneration received by Deschamps.
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That disparity makes it unlikely that Zidane would accept a standard contract under the proposed limit, particularly given his record and international profile.
The 54-year-old won three consecutive Champions League titles and two La Liga championships during his two spells in charge of Real Madrid. He has also rejected several opportunities since leaving the Spanish club while waiting for the France position to become available.
Minister calls Zidane a good fit
Sports minister Marina Ferrari indicated that she viewed Zidane positively when questioned about Deschamps’ successor on France 2.
She described him as “a good fit” for the national team but stressed that selecting the next coach was not her responsibility.
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“You know, it is not for the sports minister to take a position on the choice of national coach,” Ferrari said, as quoted by L’Équipe.
Her ministry could nevertheless become directly involved by approving any request to exceed the salary ceiling.
That creates an unusual situation in which the government would not formally select the coach but could influence the financial terms available to the FFF.
FFF faces delicate decision
There is another possible route for the federation.
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If Zidane and the FFF have already signed a contract, the proposed limit may not affect the agreement. The federation has declined to confirm whether a deal has been completed.
The parties could theoretically finalise the contract before the law is formally enacted, but L’Équipe notes that doing so could be interpreted as an attempt to bypass the new regulations.
Reports earlier in 2026 suggested that Zidane had already reached a verbal agreement to take the job. He has long described coaching France as an ambition, while Deschamps previously called him the “natural” and “expected” successor.
The salary issue therefore appears more likely to delay the formal announcement than to prevent Zidane’s appointment entirely.
France’s preferred successor is clear. The remaining question is whether the FFF can secure his signature without first asking the government for permission.
