Zinedine Zidane, the surprise appointment?

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By: Manu Tournoux

Since January and the announcement by Didier Deschamps from his departure after the 2026 World Cup, the identity of his successor has hardly been doubts. Zinedine Zidane, who has not hid her desire for several years to sit on the bench of the French team, appears to be the great favorite.

However, Philippe Diallo, the president of the French Football Federation does not intend to give in to precipitation. “It is not that I am a follower of secrecy. But I want to respect the work of people who are in place, who have brought a lot to French football and who still have important deadlines. And not come to pollute it with premature and unwelcome announcements, “he explained in the columns of Ouest-France.

But this prudence is not to the taste of Jérôme Rothen. “A little honesty and sincerity Mr. Diallo!” We are fed up with political speeches … Deschamps no longer needs to be protected, he said at the microphone of RMC. Diallo talks about the Deschamps contract, his work for the World Cup. He just puts himself in the posture of the president who decides on his own without asking for advice. But everyone is waiting to see Zidane at the head of the French team! »»

“In addition, Zidane positioned himself, he was very clear, he dreams of being on the Blues bench, he continued. So now, it must be called, to make him sign the contract for 2026. Because there, the risk with this reaction from Diallo is that Zidane is committed elsewhere, because it remains a great coach who can be tempted by an interesting project. »»

“For Deschamps, he should have withdrawn after the last euro, where France got brought up … But everyone knows that he will stop in 2026, so nothing prevents Zidane now, now, he insisted. Because if Zidane finds a project before next year, Diallo will no longer have anyone to put after Deschamps. So I do not understand the policy of Diallo, which respects too much Deschamps. »»