Raymond Domenech, the former coach of the Blues (2004-2010), gave his opinion on the departure of Didier Deschamps and the possible appointment of Zinedine Zidane at the head of the France team. Unlike the majority of French football fans, Domenech does not share the excitement surrounding the arrival of Zidane. During his appearance on L’Équipe de Greg this Wednesday evening, he explained why he favors another option to succeed Deschamps.
Zidane is not favored by Domenech
Raymond Domenech surprised by putting forward Thierry Henry as the ideal successor. For him, Henry, former Belgium assistant and coach of the France Espoirs team, would be a logical and deserved solution. “We cannot rule out Thierry Henry”, he said, emphasizing that at the time of appointment, the availability of candidates will play a crucial role.
“The selectors, we don’t know what they’re going to do in a year or two. They could be linked to clubs, which would make things complicated. Thierry Henry has the experience and could fit perfectly into the Blues project.”
The divide is still alive between Zidane and Domenech.
An old dispute with Zidane
Domenech has made no secret of the fact that he is far from being in phase with Zidane. Their relationship was marked by tensions, notably during the 2006 World Cup. During a match against South Korea, Zidane refused to shake his hand after a substitution. This episode still seems to weigh on the opinion of Domenech, who was never close to the former number 10.
“I think the media impact is in favor of Zidane, that’s obvious,” he admitted. But Domenech remains skeptical about the real effect of Zidane at the head of the Blues.
“The important thing is to appoint a coach who is available and capable of bringing everyone together, without creating tensions.”
A transition to prepare for
Domenech also welcomed Didier Deschamps’ decision to announce his departure now, believing that this calms the debates around the future of the France team. According to him, the successor should be chosen by the beginning of 2026 to avoid the World Cup being parasitized by uncertainties. “Didier did what was necessary to protect the team. Now, the Federation must quickly decide to guarantee the serenity of the group”he concluded.
If the majority of observers see Zidane as the natural successor to Deschamps, Domenech, true to his reputation, does not hide his skepticism and opens the debate on an alternative which could surprise.
