Zinedine Zidane is the top favorite among the French press to replace Didier Deschamps as national team coach after Deschamps announced he would step down following the 2026 World Cup. The 52-year-old former Real Madrid coach has widespread support from the media, with the only alternative being Thierry Henry, who was the U-21 and Olympic team manager until last August.

Zidane, the Undisputed Favorite

According to L'Équipe, Zidane is "the best-placed" candidate for the job, and "it will be hard to avoid the obvious choice in 2026." The sports newspaper highlights that although Zidane’s coaching career has been brief, he has achieved an impressive record with Real Madrid, winning three consecutive Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018, in addition to a total of eleven titles in his two stints at the helm of the club. Despite not being known for being a theorist or a passionate strategist like Deschamps, Zidane has always made it clear that his ambition is to coach the 'Bleus', strengthening his candidacy for the position.

RMC Sports also emphasizes that Zidane is considered the natural favorite and "most legitimate" candidate to succeed Deschamps, having patiently waited for his opportunity since leaving Real Madrid in 2021. Christophe Dugarry, a close friend and former teammate of Zidane, said on a radio program, "We all expect it to be him after 2026." Since leaving Real Madrid, Zidane has turned down all club offers, indicating that his main goal remains the French national team.

Thierry Henry’s Alternative

The only serious competitor for the role seems to be Thierry Henry, who managed France to a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where they lost to Spain in the final. Henry, 47, has regained credibility following his successful Olympic stint, and although his first managerial role with Monaco in 2018-19 wasn’t successful, the Olympic silver medal has repositioned him as a potential candidate for the national team. L'Équipe also notes that Henry already has experience within the French Football Federation.

Other Coaches Not Considered

French media do not consider other more established coaches, such as Christophe Galtier (currently in Qatar), Bruno Genesio (Lille), or Franck Haise (Nice), to be serious contenders against Zidane for the role. In summary, although Zidane has not been officially confirmed, the French press sees him as the natural successor to Deschamps, and it is expected that, after the 2026 World Cup, he will take over the French national team.