French football legend Zinedine Zidane has revealed that he turned down several managerial offers over the past five years because his only ambition was to coach the French national team.
Zidane made the revelation during his first press conference after being appointed head coach of Les Bleus, succeeding Didier Deschamps, who ended his 14-year tenure with the national side.
The former Real Madrid manager said he received multiple offers from clubs but chose to wait for the opportunity to lead France.
“Over the past four or five years, I had offers from clubs, but I refused them all for France. This is the only job I wanted after my career at Real Madrid,” Zidane said.
The 1998 World Cup winner described taking charge of France as a dream fulfilled, adding that managing the national team carries both pride and responsibility.
“There is nothing greater than the French national team. It is a joy and a great source of pride to become the coach of this team.”
Zidane also paid tribute to Deschamps for his achievements with the team, including guiding France to the 2018 FIFA World Cup title.
The appointment marks Zidane’s return to management after leaving Real Madrid in 2021, where he won three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles during his first spell as head coach.
He will now begin a new chapter with France as the team prepares for upcoming international competitions, with expectations high for the former Ballon d’Or winner to continue the country’s recent success.
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