The players of the French team know what to expect if Zinédine Zidane succeeds Didier Deschamps at the head of the France team in the wake of the 2026 World Cup in North America. The former Real Madrid coach, winner of three Champions Leagues in a row at the head of the Merengues, spoke about his management style in an interview organized by Thibaud Vézirian. “Zizou” wants to be close to its players but “not boyfriend”. He is concise in his instructions in order to obtain and maintain the respect of his players. And clearly does not accept delays!
“When I was a player, I didn’t like having a radical coach at all. With me, it couldn’t happen. You had to know how to handle myself, so I tend to be like that, to live this job in that way. I accept everything, but then there are rules. For example, I don’t like guys who arrive late at all. For me, a player must be creative, I let a lot of things go, even when a player doesn’t come back (to defend), it doesn’t matter. On the other hand, on the rest, the exterior… Because it’s for the group. There are things I won’t let go.”thus launched the Ballon d’Or 98.
Zidane at the head of an armada of stars
Zidane, headliner of the Real Galacticos of the 2000s, returned to Casa Blanca as president of Florentino Pérez, director of football then assistant to Carlo Ancelotti during the 2013-2014 season before starting as coach of Castilla, the reserve team, in 2014. The Marseille native was appointed in 2016 while Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale already formed the BBC of the Merengues. Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo, Casemiro, Luka Modric and James Rodriguez were also well established.
Under the orders of Zidane, in addition to the 2016/2017/2018 hat-trick
ChampionsReal have been Spanish champions twice, in 2017 and 2020, and have also won the Club World Cup twice. Small peculiarity: the former playmaker of the Blues and the Merengues has no Spanish Cup to his credit as a player and coach.
