Zidane shakes up France: more women and familiar faces on the commission

Zidane shakes up France: more women and well-known faces on the commission

According to Vi.

Context

Zinédine Zidane, French football icon and former Real Madrid coach, is taking on the responsibility of leading Les Bleus towards the 2026 World Cup. Her innovative and inclusive approach, focusing on gender equality and the experience of former players, could be crucial to France's success at the tournament.

Why this matters

The selection of Zinédine Zidane as coach of the French national team marks a new era for Les Bleus, especially after the disappointment at the last 2026 World Cup. His emphasis on gender equality in the coaching staff could not only modernize the team structure, but also inspire significant changes in the culture of French football. The inclusion of well-known and respected faces, such as Fabien Barthez and Bernard Diomède, can bring a new dynamic and experience to the team.

Main conclusions

• Zidane shakes up France: more women and well-known faces on the commission.
• Former player and now coach Zinédine Zidane is already in action behind the scenes to assemble his technical team in the France national team, focusing on gender equality and the presence of former collaborators.
• 'Zidane schudt Frankrijk op: meer vrouwen en bekende gezichten in de staf'.

Zinédine Zidane, even without an official presentation as the new coach of the French national team, is already working intensely behind the scenes to structure his coaching staff. According to the newspaper L'Équipe, the 54-year-old Frenchman wants to bring not only familiar faces from his time at Real Madrid, but also promote modernization within the structure of the French Football Federation. One of Zidane's focuses is to ensure more gender equality in roles within the commission, especially in the areas of communication and data analysis, seeking to increase the participation of women. Among the names expected to make up his team, David Bettoni will be his main assistant, while Hamidou Msaidie will act as second assistant. Grégory Dupont will be responsible for the physical preparation of Les Bleus players. Zidane is also considering the inclusion of Fabien Barthez, the iconic goalkeeper and 1998 World Cup winner, as goalkeeping coach. However, Barthez still does not have the diploma required by the French federation, known as CEGB. According to information, Zidane is in negotiations with the federation to try to obtain an exception or for Barthez to obtain the certificate soon. France, who performed below expectations in the last World Cup after being eliminated in the semi-finals by champions Spain, are now looking for a new identity under Zidane's leadership. In addition to Barthez, Zidane also wants to count on Bernard Diomède, another 1998 world champion who is currently coach of the France under-20 team, to act as an analyst and observer. Zidane's plans are being kept confidential, but the expectation is that he will become official as coach of the French national team by the end of this month. Philippe Diallo, president of the French Football Federation, has already signaled that theannouncement must be made before the end of July. Zidane is expected to officially make his debut in charge of the national team in a Nations League match against Turkey, which is scheduled for September 1st. Next, France will face Belgium twice and will also have a clash against Italy, which promise to be decisive games for the new era of French football under the command of the idol Zidane.

What happens next

Zidane is in the process of assembling his coaching staff, with David Bettoni and Hamidou Msaidie already confirmed in important roles. The search for an exception for Fabien Barthez to obtain the necessary degree is a priority, as is the inclusion of Bernard Diomède. With the 2026 World Cup approaching, France hopes these changes will bring a new lease of life and a renewed identity to the national team.