It was an open secret, and now it's official: Zinédine Zidane will indeed be the next France manager. According to a report from L'Équipe, the 1998 Ballon d'Or winner will begin his tenure on September 1st. A new adventure on the touchline for the 54-year-old Frenchman, already a three-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid.

Among the most beloved figures in football, Zidane will take over from Didier Deschamps, who has been in charge of Les Bleus since 2012. Zidane's teammate at the 1998 World Cup, and a World Cup winner himself as manager in 2018, Deschamps ends his tenure with another semi-final run in 2026. A new chapter opens for French football.