Following the departure of Didier Deschamps after 14 years at the helm, the Fédération Française de Football officially announced that Zinédine Zidane has taken over as the new manager of the France national team on a four-year contract running through the 2030 FIFA World Cup. Alongside Zidane’s appointment, the federation revealed the makeup of his initial coaching and support staff, featuring high-profile names alongside notable personnel shifts. Among the selections, 1998 World Cup winner Fabien Barthez was named as the team’s new goalkeeping coach, a decision that immediately drew scrutiny due to his limited coaching experience and lack of standard professional diplomas.
Zidane Takes Charge as Barthez Steps Into Staff Role
The appointment of Barthez forms part of an initial coaching roster approved by FFF president Philippe Diallo on Zinédine Zidane’s recommendation, according to reports from outlets covering the federation’s announcement. Barthez, who earned 87 caps for Les Bleus and hoisted the World Cup trophy alongside Zidane in 1998, takes over the preparation and oversight of the national team’s goalkeepers. However, reports highlighted by outlets including L’Équipe and relayed by regional sports coverage note that the former Manchester United and Olympique de Marseille goalkeeper does not yet hold the required specific credentials, specifically lacking the French Goalkeeping Coach Trainer Certificate (CEGB), making his inclusion a point of immediate discussion within French football circles.
Inside the New France Coaching Staff
Zidane’s technical staff brings together several familiar faces and trusted lieutenants as preparations begin for upcoming international fixtures. David Bettoni has been named assistant coach, supporting Zidane alongside assistant coach Hamidou Msaidie, while Grégory Dupont takes charge of strategy and performance. Additional technical roles announced by the federation include Stéphane Plancque as an observer, alongside Farid Tabet and Clément Ybert handling video analysis and data. The medical department features a team of five physiotherapists, a doctor, an osteopath, and a podologist, while support personnel handle team management, security, kit logistics, and media production.
Background and Upcoming Fixtures
The transition marks the end of Didier Deschamps’s tenure, which officially concluded following the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup cycle. Zidane, who remained unattached following the end of his second managerial stint at Real Madrid in 2021, steps into the role with an eye toward building a long-term project spanning multiple major international tournaments. France’s new technical staff will face their first competitive test when Les Bleus travel to Turkey for their opening fixture of the UEFA Nations League group stage on September 25.
