Zlatan Ibrahimovic has voiced strong support for Zinedine Zidane to take over as the next manager of the French national football team after their exit from the World Cup. The Swedish legend believes that Les Bleus are in need of a specific kind of leadership to move forward following their 2-0 loss to Spain in the semi-finals.

A new chapter for Les Bleus

Didier Deschamps’ long and illustrious spell as manager of France appears to be nearing its end. His hopes of concluding a 14-year reign with another World Cup victory ended on Tuesday night with a 2-0 defeat to Spain. As Deschamps prepares to guide his side one final time in the third-place play-off in Miami, attention has already turned toward who will succeed him.

Zinedine Zidane has long been seen as the leading candidate for the role, and former Paris Saint-Germain star Ibrahimovic considers the ex-Real Madrid coach to be the perfect man for the job. Speaking as a pundit for Fox Sports, Ibrahimovic observed that France looked “flat” against Spain and lacked the creative spark required to reach the final.

Zlatan backs Zidane’s leadership

“Zidane did a good job, he was at Real Madrid,” Ibrahimovic said. “He won three Champions Leagues. We all know that he is going to take the national team. I think he will just continue the work that Deschamps has built. It’s not difficult to choose the players. He has the players. Then, he must bring his management to the team, the way he wants to do it. But I believe he is more of a manager type rather than a coach because this team doesn’t need a coach. They need a manager.”

During his managerial career, Zidane has exclusively managed Real Madrid, where he led the club through a remarkable period between 2016 and 2018, winning three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles and one La Liga crown, among several other honours. He returned to the Spanish giants from 2019 to 2021, adding another La Liga trophy to his record. After the 2022 World Cup, Zidane reportedly declined an offer to manage the United States national team, remaining unattached as he waits for the opportunity to lead France.

Tactical lapses and Spain’s superiority

After the semi-final defeat, Deschamps criticised the officiating, particularly the penalty given to Lamine Yamal that resulted in Spain’s opening goal, though he ultimately conceded that Spain were the better team on the night. Reflecting on the result, Ibrahimovic highlighted where France failed to adjust tactically. “Obviously, today, a few different things could have been added during the match,” he said. “That’s the difficult part for a coach and that’s why they’re coaches or managers. They have to find and know the timing of things, when to change.”

Ibrahimovic also questioned the energy levels of the French players during the crucial encounter. “I felt today that the French players were not ‘alive,’ they were not active. Obviously, you don’t want to concede a goal to Spain and then chase the ball, they could have done more. Spain was the better team,” the Swede admitted, acknowledging that the more deserving side advanced to the final.

Respecting Deschamps’ legacy

Despite advocating for change, Ibrahimovic was full of admiration for Deschamps’ achievements. “There are few incredible players who have also been incredible coaches,” he said earlier. “He had already won a World Cup, he won a Nations League, he lost a Euro final and one World Cup final... People think it’s easy because he has many stars on the pitch, but it’s not easy — there are so many things around that you have to lead and control. They always win trophies, and when they don’t, they’re still among the best, at the top, just missing the final step.”