JuicyTalk
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has backed Zinedine Zidane to take over from Didier Deschamps as France head coach.
Deschamps announced prior to the World Cup of his departure from the role, with Zidane quickly named as one of the favourites to become Les Bleus’ next boss.
Zidane has not taken on any coaching roles since his second spell with Real Madrid, which ended in May 2021.
The 54-year-old won 172 of his 263 matches in charge of Los Blancos (D55 L36), leading them to three consecutive Champions League titles between 2015-16 and 2017-18, while also winning LaLiga twice.
Zidane won 11 titles overall with Madrid, and Ibrahimovic believes the Frenchman can offer exactly what the national team needs.
“Zidane did a good job, he was at Real Madrid,” Ibrahimovic told Fox Sports. “He won three Champions Leagues.
— Equipe de France (@equipedefrance) July 15, 2026
“We all know that he is going to take the national team. I think he will just continue to do the work that Deschamps has built.
“It’s not difficult to choose the players. He has the players. Then, he must bring his management to the team, the way he wants to do it.
“But I believe he is more of a manager type rather than a coach because this team doesn’t need a coach. They need a manager.”
Deschamps will take charge of his last game for France in Saturday’s third-place play-off at the World Cup.
They will face England for the bronze medal, following their defeat to Spain on Tuesday.
