Manchester United target lands his dream job with the France national team

Last Updated on 28 July 2026

Manchester United chased Zinedine Zidane for years, yet he never arrived at Old Trafford.

Instead, he waited patiently for the role he always wanted most. Now, Zidane finally becomes France manager, succeeding Didier Deschamps after a poor World Cup exit. It’s not the first managerial exit after the World Cup, with Germany also announcing Jurgen Klopp’s arrival.

Manchester United fans can stop dreaming; this pursuit is officially over.

Zinedine Zidane replaces Didier Deschamps after a painful end

Deschamps departs after 14 remarkable years in charge. He won the 2018 World Cup and reached another final in 2022. However, 2026 ended painfully instead of triumphantly. France entered as favourites, playing brilliant attacking football throughout the group stages.

Then, Spain ended their dream in the semi-final, winning 2-0 comfortably. Consequently, France dropped into the third-place playoff against England. They lost that too, finishing fourth overall. Therefore, Deschamps bows out without the fairytale send-off many expected.

Zidane, meanwhile, waited patiently throughout this process. He rejected other managerial offers for eight months, staying ready for France specifically. That patience finally pays off now. Consequently, the timing feels bittersweet: one legend exits just as another begins.

What Zinedine Zidane will bring to the Les Bleus

Zidane inherits genuine star quality immediately. Kylian Mbappe enters his prime years, backed by William Saliba defensively. Furthermore, Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele add creativity going forward and the midfield is stacked beyond just the starting XI.

Given his Real Madrid pedigree, Zidane knows how to manage elite egos. He won multiple Champions League titles using calm, authoritative leadership. Therefore, handling superstar personalities shouldn’t overwhelm him at all. Tactically, though, questions remain.

Deschamps favoured pragmatic, results-driven football throughout his tenure. Zidane, conversely, prefers fluid, possession-based systems from his club career. Consequently, adapting personnel to a new philosophy will take time.

Nevertheless, expectations stay sky-high regardless. France has reached four of the last five World Cup semi-finals. Anything less than silverware will disappoint everyone connected to Les Bleus. For Zidane, though, this challenge represents exactly what he always wanted.