Zinédine Zidane has agreed to a contract with the French Football Federation (FFF) to take over as head coach of the French national team, succeeding Didier Deschamps through 2030, according to official announcements and sports media reports. The appointment, confirmed by Philippe Diallo during a press briefing, places the former Real Madrid manager at the helm of Les Bleus with two major tournament targets: UEFA Euro 2028 and the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
The transition ends Deschamps’ 14-year tenure, which reached its peak with France’s victory at the 2018 World Cup. Zidane, who has been out of management since leaving Real Madrid in 2021 after capturing three UEFA Champions League titles, steps into international management for the first time in his coaching career. His debut on the touchline is scheduled for the international window between late September and early October 2026.
Financial Terms and Record-Breaking Wages
According to reports from RMC Sport, Zidane’s contract establishes a record for international managers. Without performance bonuses, his base salary is set at 300,000 euros per month, totaling 3.6 million euros annually. When performance-related bonuses are factored in, that figure rises to 450,000 euros monthly—equating to 5.4 million euros per year, or roughly 15,000 euros per day. By comparison, his predecessor Deschamps earned an annual salary of 3,8 million euros.
Zidane’s compensation package places him among the highest-paid national team coaches in world football, trailing only a select group of counterparts from the recent World Cup cycle. Carlo Ancelotti leads all international managers in this World Cup, earning 10 million euros per year under his contract with the Brazilian Football Confederation. Julian Nagelsmann, managing Germany, and Jürgen Klopp command salaries around 7 million euros annually. Mauricio Pochettino, who coaches the United States men’s national team, earns approximately 6 million euros per year.
Zidane’s 5.4 million euro package also dwarfs the wages of Spain manager Luis de la Fuente. The Spanish coach, who is a world champion, earns an estimated 2 million euros annually—roughly one-third of Zidane’s total potential earnings with France.
Upcoming Schedule and Preparation
The French Football Federation structured Zidane’s contract to secure long-term continuity ahead of the 2028 European Championship and the 2030 World Cup cycle. Zidane will now adapt to the rhythm of international breaks, starting with the first international break slated for late September and early October 2026.
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