France are preparing to appoint Zinedine Zidane as their new head coach, marking the end of Didier Deschamps’ highly successful tenure.

The French Football Federation is expected to make Zidane’s appointment official later this month, following extensive preparations that ensured a smooth transition between the two managers.

The 54-year-old has reportedly finalised his backroom team and is set to complete the formalities before assuming charge of the national side.

Zidane will take over one of the most talented squads in international football and is expected to lead France into the forthcoming UEFA Nations League campaign.

Before stepping aside, Deschamps will oversee his final game when Les Bleus face England in the 2026 World Cup third-place play-off, after which Zidane will officially take over.

Deschamps departs with a remarkable legacy, having guided France to victory in the 2018 World Cup, the 2021 UEFA Nations League, and another World Cup final appearance in 2022.

However, France’s inability to reach the World Cup final again prompted the federation to implement the long-standing succession plan centred around Zidane.

The former France captain has long been linked with the managerial role since his departure from Real Madrid in 2021 and is now set for a long-awaited return to the dugout.

Zidane’s last managerial role was his second spell at Real Madrid, where he built one of the most impressive records in modern football management.

During his two stints with the Spanish giants, he won three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles, two La Liga championships, two UEFA Super Cups and two FIFA Club World Cups, establishing his reputation as one of the elite managers of the sport.

As a player, Zidane holds iconic status in French football, having inspired France to triumphs in the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.

His influential performances in those tournaments cemented his place among the greatest footballers of all time, and he was honoured with the Ballon d’Or in 1998.

Attention will now shift to how Zidane structures a squad that includes top-tier talents such as Kylian Mbappe, Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, Ousmane Dembele, William Saliba, and Michael Olise.

There is widespread anticipation that Zidane will bring a more adventurous, possession-oriented approach to France’s play, following criticism of their lack of attacking sharpness during the World Cup.