Zidane’s Coaching Return Confirmed: French Legend Declares ‘Very Soon’ as France Job Beckons

Zinedine Zidane has finally broken his prolonged silence regarding his managerial future, delivering a cryptic yet emphatic message that has sent the football world into frenzy. Speaking at a charity gala in Toulon on November 10, 2025, the 53-year-old French legend was asked about his return to coaching, to which he responded with just seven powerful words: “It will happen soon, very soon.”

This brief statement, reported by transfer guru Fabrizio Romano and subsequently echoed across global media, marks the first concrete indication that Zidane’s sabbatical from football since leaving Real Madrid in May 2021 is nearing its end, with the France national team job appearing to be his most likely destination once Didier Deschamps departs after the 2026 World Cup.

The Four-Year Wait: Understanding Zidane’s Strategic Patience

Since departing Real Madrid for the second time in 2021, Zidane has remained conspicuously absent from the managerial landscape despite being linked with virtually every high-profile vacancy that emerged. Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, Liverpool, and even a return to Real Madrid have all been mentioned as potential destinations, yet the Frenchman has consistently declined to re-enter the fray. This extraordinary patience has puzzled observers, with speculation ranging from burnout to waiting for the perfect opportunity.

Zidane’s Managerial Career Timeline

The strategic calculation behind Zidane’s patience has become increasingly apparent. Sources close to the manager suggest he has been specifically waiting for the France national team position, viewing it as the natural culmination of his playing and coaching career. This selectivity reflects not desperation but privilege – few managers possess the luxury of choosing when and where they return, but Zidane’s legendary status as both player and coach affords him precisely that freedom.

His recent comments at the Trento Sports Festival in October provided additional context: “I’d like to be the head coach of the France team one day. I will surely return to coaching.” These statements, combined with his latest “very soon” declaration, suggest that the pieces of his carefully constructed plan are finally falling into place. With Deschamps confirming his departure after the 2026 World Cup, the timeline aligns perfectly with Zidane’s patient approach.

The France Connection: Why Les Bleus Makes Perfect Sense

For Zidane, managing the French national team represents far more than another prestigious job; it embodies personal redemption, national duty, and the completion of an emotional circle that began with glory in 1998 and ended in controversy in 2006. As a player, Zidane captained France to World Cup glory on home soil in 1998, delivering two headed goals in the final against Brazil and cementing his status as a national hero. Two years later, he inspired Les Bleus to Euro 2000 triumph, further enhancing his legendary reputation.

However, his playing career with France concluded on the darkest possible note. In the 2006 World Cup final against Italy, Zidane received a red card for headbutting Marco Materazzi in the chest during extra time, an action that shocked the world and left France to lose on penalties. This infamous moment, replayed endlessly in highlight reels, represents unfinished business that managing France to major tournament success could symbolically resolve.

Beyond personal narrative, Zidane possesses unique credibility with French players. Multiple reports suggest that current squad members “dream” of playing under him, viewing him as the ultimate authority figure who understands the pressures and expectations of representing Les Bleus at the highest level. His tactical acumen, demonstrated across two successful spells at Real Madrid, combined with his legendary playing status, creates a rare combination that few candidates could match.

The cultural and emotional weight of the France job also matters profoundly to Zidane. Unlike club management, where mercenary movement between rivals is commonplace, national team roles carry deeper patriotic significance. For a player who embodied French football’s golden generation and helped unite a diverse nation through sporting success, leading Les Bleus represents the ultimate honor and responsibility.

The Real Madrid Legacy: An Unprecedented Achievement

To understand why Zidane can afford to be so selective about his next role, one must examine his extraordinary Real Madrid achievements. Across two managerial spells totaling approximately five years, Zidane accumulated 11 major trophies, establishing himself as one of the most successful managers in the club’s illustrious history despite having virtually no prior coaching experience at the elite level before taking charge.

Zidane’s Trophy Cabinet at Real Madrid

The three consecutive Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018 represent Zidane’s most remarkable achievement. No manager in the modern era had accomplished this feat, with even legendary figures like Alex Ferguson, Pep Guardiola, and José Mourinho unable to secure back-to-back-to-back European crowns. Zidane achieved it with a combination of tactical intelligence, player management skills, and an almost supernatural ability to make crucial in-game adjustments.

Critics have questioned whether Zidane simply inherited an exceptional squad that would have succeeded under any competent manager. However, this perspective ignores the complexity of managing superstar egos, the pressure of Real Madrid’s win-at-all-costs culture, and the tactical adjustments required to dominate Europe’s elite competition three years running. His ability to rotate players effectively, maintain squad harmony despite limited playing time for stars, and consistently deliver in knockout competitions demonstrated managerial excellence that transcends mere caretaker duties.

His abrupt departure in May 2018, just days after winning his third consecutive Champions League, shocked the football world. Zidane cited the need for change and suggested the team needed “a different voice.” He returned ten months later when Real Madrid struggled under successive managers Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari, stabilizing the club and winning La Liga in 2020 before departing again in 2021. This pattern of leaving on his terms, rather than being fired, further demonstrates his unique position in football’s managerial hierarchy.

The Alternatives: Why Other Clubs Don’t Fit

While Zidane has been linked with numerous prestigious clubs during his sabbatical, closer examination reveals why most alternatives fail to match his ambitions or circumstances. Real Madrid, where he remains beloved, currently employs Xabi Alonso, who has transformed the club’s fortunes since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen. Los Blancos sit atop La Liga and look set for sustained success under Alonso’s long-term project, making a managerial change both unnecessary and unlikely.

Paris Saint-Germain represents another improbable destination despite the French connection. Zidane’s playing career at Marseille, PSG’s bitter rivals, creates complications that transcend sporting considerations. In French football culture, such rivalries carry weight that makes cross-pollination between certain clubs virtually unthinkable. Managing PSG would risk tarnishing his legacy with Marseille supporters, a price Zidane appears unwilling to pay.

Juventus, where Zidane spent five glorious years as a player winning two Serie A titles and reaching two Champions League finals, has been repeatedly mentioned as a potential destination. Zidane himself addressed this speculation at the Trento Festival: “Me at Juventus? I don’t know why it didn’t happen. I always keep that team in my heart because it gave me a lot.” However, Juventus recently appointed Luciano Spalletti and are in a rebuilding phase far removed from the competitive heights Zidane experienced as a player, making the timing less than ideal.

Manchester United’s managerial instability has seen Zidane linked to Old Trafford on multiple occasions. However, sources suggest that language presents a significant barrier. Zidane has stated: “I understand English, but I’m not completely fluent in it. I know that there are coaches who go to clubs without speaking the language, but I work in a different way.” This insistence on linguistic competence reflects his hands-on management style and suggests he would only accept positions where he can communicate directly and effectively with players, staff, and media.

The Fenerbahce Rumors: Turkish Media Speculation

In September 2025, Turkish media outlets sparked unexpected speculation by claiming Zidane had “reached a preliminary agreement” to become Fenerbahce’s manager following José Mourinho’s departure. These reports, originating primarily from outlets like Sabah and Oksijen, suggested Zidane would travel to Turkey to finalize contract details after preliminary negotiations concluded successfully.

However, multiple factors suggest these rumors lacked substance. First, no major European or French media sources corroborated the Turkish reports, raising questions about their reliability. Second, the timing seemed suspicious, emerging just as Fenerbahce sought to generate excitement following Mourinho’s high-profile exit. Third, Zidane’s recent comments about waiting for the France job contradict any suggestion he would accept a Turkish club position, however prestigious Fenerbahce may be domestically.

The language barrier also presents obvious problems. Turkish is not among the languages Zidane speaks fluently (French, Spanish, and limited Italian), and his stated preference for direct communication with players makes a Turkish adventure highly improbable. While Turkish clubs have invested heavily in recent years, attracting big-name players and coaches, Zidane’s specific career trajectory and stated ambitions point decisively away from the Super Lig.

What “Very Soon” Actually Means: Timeline Analysis

Zidane’s choice of words – “It will happen soon, very soon” – invites interpretation about precise timing. The most logical reading suggests he expects an announcement or agreement within months rather than years, yet probably not within days or weeks given the France national team job remains occupied until after the 2026 World Cup.

Didier Deschamps has confirmed he will not renew his contract beyond the tournament, scheduled for June-July 2026. This creates a natural transition point approximately seven to eight months from Zidane’s November 2025 statement. “Very soon” in this context likely refers to formal discussions or preliminary agreements being finalized, even if the actual start date remains summer 2026.

Another interpretation suggests Zidane might take an interim position before the France job becomes available. Could he accept a short-term club role with a clearly defined endpoint that allows him to transition to Les Bleus post-World Cup? While possible, this seems inconsistent with his patient approach and risks complications if the interim role encounters difficulties or the France situation changes unexpectedly.

The most probable scenario involves private discussions with the French Football Federation (FFF) reaching advanced stages, with Zidane feeling confident enough to telegraph his return publicly without making an official announcement. This would explain the “very soon” phrasing – he knows the decision is essentially made, even if diplomatic considerations require waiting for the appropriate moment to formalize arrangements.

The Challenge of Expectations: Can Zidane Succeed?

Assuming Zidane does become France manager, he will face extraordinary expectations shaped by his legendary status and Deschamps’ successful tenure. Deschamps has guided France to the 2018 World Cup title, the 2022 World Cup final, and multiple deep tournament runs, establishing a standard of consistent excellence that any successor must match or exceed.

Critics question whether Zidane’s Real Madrid success resulted primarily from inheriting exceptional talent rather than demonstrating genuine tactical innovation. Managing a national team presents different challenges than club management – less training time, inability to recruit players, and tournament-specific pressures that differ from season-long campaigns. Zidane’s limited managerial experience outside Real Madrid’s unique ecosystem creates uncertainty about his adaptability.

However, several factors favor Zidane’s potential success. France possesses exceptional talent across all positions, from Kylian Mbappé’s attacking brilliance to a deep pool of midfield and defensive options. The squad knows and respects Zidane’s legacy, potentially creating immediate buy-in that facilitates tactical implementation. His Champions League knockout experience translates well to tournament football’s elimination format, where tactical flexibility and mental resilience often prove decisive.

Zidane’s man-management skills, repeatedly demonstrated at Real Madrid where he balanced egos and kept stars motivated despite rotation, will prove invaluable managing France’s talented but sometimes temperamental squad. His calm demeanor and legendary status provide natural authority that command respect without requiring aggressive assertion. These intangible qualities often matter more than tactical minutiae in tournament football.

The Wait is Almost Over

Zinedine Zidane’s “it will happen soon, very soon” declaration marks the end of one of football’s longest and most intriguing managerial sabbaticals. His four-year absence from the touchline has been strategic rather than accidental, reflecting a patient wait for the one job he truly desires – leading France to glory and completing the redemptive arc that began with his infamous 2006 World Cup final red card.

All signs point toward Zidane succeeding Didier Deschamps after the 2026 World Cup, assuming the FFF follows the logic that has seemed inevitable for years. The timing of his recent comments, the alignment with Deschamps’ departure, and Zidane’s repeated expressions of desire to manage Les Bleus create a narrative that appears destined for fulfillment.

For French football fans, the prospect of Zidane leading their national team represents the ultimate homecoming. The boy from Marseille who became France’s greatest player could soon become the manager who guides the next generation to World Cup glory. The football world awaits official confirmation, but Zidane’s words suggest the wait won’t last much longer. “Soon, very soon” may be deliberately vague, but the direction is unmistakable. The legendary number 10 is preparing for his next chapter, and it promises to be one of football’s most compelling stories.

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