Zinedine Zidane ‘has the background to succeed’ with France but media test awaits – says ex-coach Raymond Domenech

Former France manager Raymond Domenech believes Zinedine Zidane has the credentials to thrive as national team coach – but admits he is unsure how the World Cup-winning legend will cope with the intense media spotlight that comes with the job.

Philippe Diallo, president of the French Football Federation, confirmed on Tuesday that Zidane has been appointed France head coach on a four-year contract running through to the 2030 World Cup.

The 52-year-old takes charge of Les Bleus at the end of a long era under Didier Deschamps, who led the side for 14 years and guided France to the 2018 World Cup title.

Domenech, who managed France from 2004 to 2010, said he was not questioning the decision to hand Zidane the role, stressing instead the scale of expectation surrounding the squad he inherits.

“Didier Deschamps served for 14 years, and now the federation’s board has appointed someone else. I have no view on that,” Domenech told Ouest-France. “There are high expectations for the French team because there is an exceptional generation capable of reaching the top. There is continuity: he is coming in with a talented generation eager to win trophies and keep achieving.”

‘He has the experience and the reputation’

Zidane returns to management after his successful spells in charge of Real Madrid, where he won three consecutive Champions League titles and two La Liga crowns, now stepping into international football for the first time as a coach.

Domenech argued that Zidane’s track record at elite club level gives him a strong foundation for the particular demands of leading a national side.

“The essence of coaching a national team is getting the best out of the group quickly, and Zidane has this background, this experience, this reputation that allows him to get his message across,” he said.

“Experience will show it, but we can assume he is capable of succeeding. But it is a different job to club coaching.”

Unlike club managers, international coaches work with players in shorter bursts, often under acute pressure during major tournaments. Domenech suggested that Zidane’s stature in the game could help him transmit ideas swiftly to a squad packed with top-level talent, but said there remain unknowns around how he will operate away from the training pitch.

Questions over media handling and communication style

Domenech highlighted the scrutiny that comes with the France job, both from the press and the wider public, and said Zidane’s relatively reserved public persona could be tested.

“I don’t know how he will deal with the media, with his reserved image, and with his relationship with the players,” he added. “If he gets results, his way of communicating will follow. The internal message is the most important. If the results don’t come, questions will be raised.”

For Domenech, success will ultimately determine how Zidane’s style – both privately with his squad and publicly in front of cameras – is perceived. A strong start, he suggested, would give the new coach room to shape his own approach without external noise becoming a distraction.

‘The job everyone dreams of’

Asked whether leading France represents a defining moment even for someone of Zidane’s stature, Domenech was unequivocal about the status of the role.

“It’s the job that everyone dreams of, the peak of any coach’s career,” he said. “It’s hard to go beyond being coach of the French national team, even if you are in charge of a big club. It is the ultimate goal, the best position.”

France remain one of the world’s leading international sides, with a squad featuring some of the game’s most coveted players and recent appearances in major finals under Deschamps. Zidane’s challenge will be to maintain that level while imposing his own identity on the team.

History between Domenech and Zidane

Domenech and Zidane share a complicated history from their time together with the national team.

During the 2006 World Cup, Zidane captained France under Domenech, leading them to the final in Berlin. That match is best remembered for Zidane’s red card after his headbutt on Italy defender Marco Materazzi, an incident that overshadowed the final stages of his playing career and contributed to a tense relationship between the player and his coach.

Despite that backdrop, Domenech’s assessment of Zidane’s appointment is largely pragmatic: a recognition of his pedigree, an acceptance of the heightened expectations around France’s “exceptional generation”, and a reminder that results – and how Zidane navigates the unforgiving media environment – will ultimately define his time in charge.