Zinédine Zidane has officially taken charge of the France national football team, stepping into the role previously held by Didier Deschamps, who spent fourteen years at the helm of Les Bleus. According to reports from regional media, the high-profile appointment of the 1998 Ballon d’Or winner has sparked immense public enthusiasm across France, where the former number 10 enjoys enduring popularity and an initial wave of goodwill as he begins his tenure.
Pierre Ménès Questions Public Immunity for Zidane
Despite the widespread acclaim surrounding his arrival, the transition has already drawn scrutiny. According to coverage from Yahoo Sports, former Canal+ journalist Pierre Ménès voiced strong reservations regarding what he perceives as a form of uncritical public immunity enjoyed by the new manager. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ménès emphasized a clear separation between his admiration for Zidane the player and his skepticism toward Zidane the person.
“I think those who do me the pleasure of following me for a while know all the reservations I have about the character of Zidane, and obviously not on the player,” Ménès stated, as reported by Yahoo Sports. “But on the character, even on the man Zidane. It’s someone I don’t like, and who gives it back to me. Now, that won’t stop me from judging what he will do at the head of the France team with objectivity. But it is obvious that in France, it’s Saint Zizou, and everything he does is necessarily formidable and touched with the seal of genius.”
A Fractured History Dating Back to 2006
This complicated dynamic between the journalist and the manager is rooted in past conflicts. According to accounts detailed in the same reporting, friction intensified in 2006 when Ménès covered the World Cup final between France and Italy in Berlin for M6—a match famously remembered for Zidane’s red-card expulsion following a headbutt on Marco Materazzi. During a subsequent investigative report for the program Complément d’enquête, Ménès dedicated a segment to the incident.
At the time, former player and consultant Christophe Dugarry allegedly intervened to ask Ménès to soften his coverage of Zidane. Following the broadcast, Zidane himself reportedly contacted the journalist directly. “A few days later, he calls me and says: ‘Ménès, it’s Zidane,'” the journalist recounted. According to Ménès, the conversation quickly turned confrontational over the tone of the broadcast, resulting in a lasting personal rift that persists as Zidane assumes the national team coaching job.
Roster Dynamics and Leadership Under the New Regime
Away from off-field friction, the sporting structure of the squad is also taking shape following recent international fixtures. According to analysis published by Le 10 Sport, while Kylian Mbappé is widely expected to retain his role as team captain under the incoming coaching staff, other squad members have staked strong claims for leadership roles. Journalist Romain Molina noted that central defender Dayot Upamecano emerged as a definitive defensive pillar during recent tournament play in the United States, earning praise for consistent performances at the heart of the backline.
“Upamecano was a boss, very consistent,” Molina stated in comments cited by Le 10 Sport, highlighting the Bayern Munich defender alongside other squad contributors who performed strongly during the summer campaign. With preparations underway for upcoming international windows, Zidane will be forced to balance high public expectations with these evolving squad dynamics as he officially embarks on his tenure with Les Bleus.
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