Zinedine Zidane returns to the bench

Zinedine Zidane looks at any coaching job and smiles. He cannot help it, and he is not trying to hide it. Even his expression has shifted in recent public appearances. His return to the game is close, although maybe not as soon as some would like, because he will have to wait until the World Cup wraps up.

The French legend is set to become the next head coach of France as soon as the tournament ends, something French media outlets have been signaling for months. The move has been in the works for a long time. Deschamps already set his own expiration date, and his recent decisions confirm it.

Deschamps prepares for life after France

The current France coach and his representatives have been approaching several Saudi Pro League clubs as they look for a landing spot for next season. Deschamps knows his record with the French national team could open doors in Saudi Arabia. He is working toward what looks like a likely move to the Middle East, and his performance at the upcoming World Cup will matter far less than what he has already achieved. The title in Russia and the runner-up finish in Qatar still carry serious weight.

No Real Madrid reunion on the table

In recent days, rumors swirled about a surprise Real Madrid Zidane reunion as a fallback option behind Xabi Alonso. That is not happening. The idea was never considered, not last spring and not now. The relationship between Madrid and Zidane remains good, but there is a long way between cordial respect and another professional partnership.

France gets the coach it has been waiting for

Zidane’s return is only a matter of time. That time is simply the stretch between now and the end of the 2026 World Cup. He has rejected every offer that has come his way. France is waiting for one of the greatest players the sport has ever seen. He has waited for the right moment and, as he recently said, “I will be coaching again soon.”

Zidane’s coaching legacy

Zidane’s coaching résumé includes only Real Madrid and its Castilla team, but what he achieved with the first team puts him among the elite.

Only Carlo Ancelotti can match him with three Champions League titles at Madrid, plus the two he won with AC Milan. It is not easy to turn down compelling sporting projects or lucrative contracts, but Zidane chose to wait for the right opportunity, and that moment is now approaching. His patience has earned widespread respect because taking over a troubled club just for the sake of returning could have jeopardized something he has always protected above all else: his sporting prestige.

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