Thierry Henry next? France legend would ‘love’ to follow World Cup-winning team-mates Didier Deschamps & Zinedine Zidane into international management

France are getting ready to hand over the managerial baton from Didier Deschamps to Zinedine Zidane, and Jeremie Aliadiere has told GOAL that Thierry Henry would “love” to follow that World Cup-winning path and become the next manager of Les Bleus. The Arsenal legend has already taken his first steps in coaching and would welcome the chance to lead his country.

Henry coached France at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris

He did so at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, taking the hosts all the way to a final against Spain. There, extra-time heartbreak followed, with silver medals - instead of gold - being placed around the necks of Michael Olise and company.

Henry has also had a short stint in the dugout at former club Monaco, returned to MLS with the Montreal Impact, and worked with Roberto Martinez in the Belgium national team set-up.

The 48-year-old is keeping his choices open for the moment, after heading back into punditry, and seems in no hurry to move to the touchline. Still, attractive offers will always be taken into consideration.

Taking charge of France would clearly appeal, with a couple of fellow 1998 World Cup winners being allowed to go down that route. Deschamps is stepping away after a 14-year spell that brought a world title in 2018 and UEFA Nations League success.

Ballon d’Or winner Zidane is next in line - in his first job away from Real Madrid - and more trophy challenges are expected while he works with a star-filled squad that includes the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele.

Is Henry a future manager of the France national team?

Whenever the day arrives for Zidane to step aside, could Henry continue the class of ‘98 run? When that question was put to Aliadiere, who was also part of Arsenal’s Premier League title-winning ‘Invincibles’, the Frenchman - speaking in association with ToonieBet - told GOAL: “Why not? I'm sure Thierry will be delighted to get the job.

“We've seen how patriotic he is and how much he loves France. We saw him during the Olympic Games in 2024 as well. He's had a great tournament there. I'm sure that'll be in the back of his mind and he will love to get the opportunity at some point.

“But I think Zidane in France is something different and now we've touched the gods. Zidane will always be Zidane. So I wish and I really hope that he succeeds and everything goes well.

“Because as much as Deschamps didn't win this World Cup, he's still all the time going to semis, to finals, won in 2018. So you just think it's still going to be a challenge for Zidane to get over the line.

“Because the next step now really for Zidane, he has to win something. He can't just come and then do a semi-final or a quarter-finals. And we know how hard it is to win it. Only one team can. And we know with England as well. They've been in tournaments lately where they are so close but not quite there. So you just start losing patience. Hopefully Zidane can do it.”

Zidane looking to build on the success enjoyed by Deschamps

When asked whether France will still be contenders for the European Championship and World Cup as they work with a golden generation of talent that seems to have several more tournaments left in them as a group, Aliadiere added: “Yeah, 100%. I think so.

“I think as much as people might say that Didier Deschamps has only one World Cup, that is obviously more than a lot of anyone else. But you just think what he's done in terms of leading the team with such a great squad and great talent.

“Zidane's going to come in and he hasn't got a lot to do really. Everything's already set for him to succeed. So yeah, I think you're right. I think the force, the age, the players that we're missing as well that will be back in the team.

“You think a player like [Rayan] Cherki who couldn't get much minutes in there, he'll be in for two years, four years. You think about [Hugo] Ekitike who was injured before it. It's like the names that you've got and the talent you've got, I think Zidane now has just got to put his little magic on it and then make it work.”

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France fixtures: Nations League next after World Cup heartbreak

France failed to live up to their promise at the 2026 World Cup, with more disappointment coming at the hands of familiar rivals Spain. A semi-final loss to La Roja - who went on to lift the trophy - was followed by a dramatic defeat to England in a 10-goal third-place play-off thriller.

Les Bleus, with Zidane’s appointment set to be confirmed very soon, will return to competitive action when they begin another Nations League campaign in September. They will face Turkiye, Belgium and Italy in Group A1.