Zinedine Zidane confirms imminent return to football management

November 12, 2025 Oliver Obel

After years of speculation and public silence, Zinedine Zidane has finally lifted the lid on his future in football — confirming that his long-awaited return to management is just around the corner.

The French icon, who has been out of work since stepping down as Real Madrid manager in 2021, told reporters that his comeback to the dugout will happen “very soon,” ending years of uncertainty over his next move.

A few quiet years away from the touchline

Zidane, now 53, resigned from Real Madrid for a second time following a trophyless 2020–21 season. His first spell at the Bernabéu, from 2016 to 2018, produced one of the most successful runs in modern football — three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles and a La Liga crown.

Since leaving Madrid, Zidane has reportedly turned down several offers from elite European clubs, including Manchester United, Chelsea, Marseille, and Fenerbahce.

In a 2022 interview, he admitted that a lack of English fluency had made a move to the Premier League unlikely, fueling talk that his next role would come either in Spain or his native France.

Eyes firmly on Les Bleus

The most persistent rumors surrounding Zidane’s future point to the France national team. His former teammate Didier Deschamps has managed Les Bleus since 2014 but confirmed earlier this year that he plans to step down after the 2026 World Cup.

According to Marca (2024), Zidane has long viewed only two positions as worthy of a comeback — Real Madrid or the French national side. Many in France believe the 1998 World Cup hero has been preparing quietly for the latter role.

Speaking at Italy’s Trento Sports Festival last month, Zidane appeared to embrace that idea. “I’d like to be the head coach of the France team one day,” he said. “I will surely return to coaching.”

‘It will happen soon’

Ahead of a recent charity match appearance, Zidane reignited speculation with a short but telling statement: “It will happen soon. Very soon.”
He did not specify where or when, but his remarks immediately sent the football world into a frenzy.

French outlet RMC later reported that Zidane’s appointment as France head coach has already been “decided,” with an official announcement expected to follow the 2026 tournament.
As cited by Defensa Central, reporter Gilbert Brisbois told RMC: “Didier Deschamps will leave in 2026. In a year, we’ll have Zidane! What a joy! It’s done, it’s decided.”

While the French Football Federation has not commented on those claims, the growing chorus of reports suggests Zidane’s homecoming could soon become reality.

Legacy of a legend

Zidane’s bond with the national team runs deep. As a player, he led France to its first-ever World Cup triumph in 1998 — scoring twice in the final against Brazil — and lifted the European Championship two years later. His career remains one of France’s most celebrated sporting stories.

French football journalist Julien Laurens told TNT Sports that Zidane’s return to the national setup feels almost inevitable.
“There is a very particular love story between him and the national team,” Laurens explained. “From leading France to glory in ’98 and 2000, to coming back for one last dance in 2006 — there’s so much passion and love between him and Les Bleus. It’s inevitable that he’s the favourite to take charge.”

The next chapter awaits

Whether his comeback begins with France or elsewhere, Zidane’s reappearance on the sidelines would mark one of football’s most anticipated managerial returns.
If confirmed, it would usher in a new era for French football — one led by the man who once defined it.

Sources: SportBible, Marca, RMC, Defensa Central, TNT Sports