Top five France stars who will thrive under Zinedine Zidane
(Courtesy : LaLiga)
The former Madrid player will take control of the national team.
Zinedine Zidane, former Real Madrid manager, has been officially appointed head coach of the French national team.
The 14-year tenure of France’s manager, Didier Deschamps, came to an end with the country’s World Cup 2026 semi-final loss to Spain.
After leaving Real Madrid as manager for the second time in 2021, Zidane, who won the World Cup with France in 1998, has been out of coaching. Five players are in a prime position to succeed under Zinedine Zidane’s management of the French national team:
Kylian Mbappe
It will be the first time Kylian Mbappe will play under Zidane. The forward, who is already a crucial part of the national team, will be excited to play under the former World Cup winner.
Everyone agrees that Kylian Mbappé is among the world’s most deadly forwards. Mbappé’s already impressive performances will be enhanced by Zinedine Zidane’s ability to handle large personalities and create his team’s assault around explosive pace and technical freedom.
Michael Olise
Michael Olise’s performance in the World Cup 2026 was important to France’s advancement in the competition, and Zinedine Zidane will be keen to call the forward in for the next competitions.
Zidane has always admired the “classic” number 10, and the playmaker for Bayern Munich is a good fit. He will be Zidane’s creative heartbeat because of his ability to work between the lines and make accurate passes.
Aurélien Tchouaméni
Tchouaméni has not played in Zidane’s system before despite playing for Real Madrid. However, he will be looking forward to playing under the World Cup winner, who led Los Blancos to three Champions League trophies in a row.
He provides the perfect balance of physical power, tactical technique, and progressive passing to break up plays and manage the tempo, making him the perfect anchor in Zinedine Zidane’s midfield.
William Saliba
William Saliba has solidified himself as one of the best centre-backs at national and club level. He will be the most important pick for Zidane at the back of the defence.
To initiate attacks from the back and keep a high line, Zidane depends on ball-playing central defenders. Saliba is the ideal cornerstone for Zinedine Zidane’s backline because of his poise and defensive strength.
Rayan Cherki
Despite not playing in the World Cup 2026, Rayan Cherki still has many competitions to play for the national team, and Zinedine Zidane will be counting on the star player to demonstrate his qualities for Les Bleus.
Cherki is a creative and talented player who fits Zidane’s ideal profile—someone who can unlock low defensive blocks with a single ball or a deft dribbling move.
Has Zinedine Zidane won the World Cup with France?
Yes, he won the competition in 1998.
When will Zinedine Zidane’s first game as France manager be?
September 25 in a Nations League game against Turkey.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.