The most inevitable move in international soccer is finally happening.
Zinedine Zidane, arguably the greatest French player to ever lace up boots, has a verbal agreement to become the next manager of France, according to Le Parisien. He'll take over from Didier Deschamps after the World Cup, and sources are saying "it's as good as done."
Let me tell you something, folks - this isn't just a managerial change. This is destiny finally catching up with reality.
Zidane as France manager has been the worst-kept secret in world football for years. Every time Deschamps faces criticism, every time Les Bleus stumble, every time there's a big tournament on the horizon, the same name comes up: Zizou.
And why wouldn't it? Look at what the man has accomplished. Three consecutive Champions League titles with Real Madrid. A managerial resume that most coaches spend entire careers trying to build. And oh yeah - he's the guy who headbutted Materazzi in a World Cup final and still became a global icon. That's the kind of legendary status that transcends the game.
But this move is about more than trophies and tactics. It's about a man coming home to lead his nation on the world's biggest stage. Zidane never got to manage France. Never got to stand on the touchline in that iconic blue kit, strategizing ways to bring glory back to Paris. He conquered club football, but international management - French international management - that's the dream job he's been waiting for.
Deschamps leaves big shoes to fill. The man won a World Cup in 2018, reached another final in 2022, and consistently has France competing at the highest level. But even he knew this day was coming. When you're managing France and Zinedine Zidane is waiting in the wings, your time has an expiration date.
The timing is perfect. France has a golden generation of talent - , , young stars bursting onto the scene. Zidane inherits a squad that's already world-class and adds his unique blend of tactical brilliance and that that made him one of the most elegant players to ever touch a football.
