Zinedine Zidane finally lands the France job after Didier Deschamps' 14-year reign, while Roberto Mancini and Jurgen Klopp step into rebuilding projects with Italy and Germany respectively.
Zinedine Zidane has been unveiled as the new head coach of France, finally landing what he calls the only job he wanted after his managerial career at Real Madrid, where his second stint ended in 2021.
He takes over from Didier Deschamps, who served as France head coach for 14 years, winning the World Cup in 2018, reaching the final in 2022, and signing off with a semifinal appearance in 2026, though his final two matches in charge ended in defeats to Spain and England.
"This is the only job I wanted after my career with Real Madrid. I have always looked at this team through the eyes of a future manager," Zidane said in his first press conference as France chief coach.
The 54-year-old, inheriting a squad built by Deschamps, said he intends to build on his predecessor's success while doing things his own way. "I am going to ensure continuity so that the French team keeps winning. But we are going to do things differently. Deschamps is Deschamps, Blanc was Blanc and Zizou is Zizou. I am going to do what I know," he said, adding, "It (the role) is a responsibility. Needless to say, I have high ambitions. On the pitch, I was a leader. Now, I am becoming a leader through my experience."
In Italy, Roberto Mancini has been named head coach for a second time, tasked with reviving the Azzurri after they missed out on the last three World Cups. His appointment came after a board-room saga in which technical director Paolo Maldini, hired only two weeks earlier, resigned after his preferred candidate Andrea Pirlo was passed over. Maldini had also tried to secure Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti, the current Brazil head coach, before stepping down.
Mancini, who previously guided Italy to the European championship title in 2021 before leaving for a spell with Saudi Arabia three years ago, replaces Gennaro Gattuso. "I am very sorry. I am also sorry for everything that has happened over the last three years," Mancini said. "I realise that some people will be against me. I am hoping the squad plays well enough so that people forgive me."
Jurgen Klopp, who had been on a sabbatical since leaving Liverpool, has been appointed Germany head coach following the resignation of Julian Nagelsmann. Germany has exited early in each of the last three World Cup editions. "This is the highlight of my career, and I will give all I have got in order to be successful," Klopp said. "I am far from perfect. I want to look at the most successful Germany coaches who developed the team."
In his first interaction with the press, Klopp also issued a warning to the German media, stressing that he would step down if his family was not left in peace.
Reporting sourced from The Hindu Sport. Photo courtesy The Hindu Sport.