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New Delhi: France legend Zinedine Zidane has confirmed that he would like to return to coaching in the future and has expressed his desire to manage the France national team in the future. The French icon, who ended his last stint with Real Madrid in 2021, is one of the most sought-after managers in world football. Zidane led Real Madrid to a hat-trick of Champions League titles in his first managerial stint with the club.

Zidane has only coached Real Madrid in his managerial career so far. He took charge of the Real Madrid first team in 2015 and scripted history by becoming the first manager to win three consecutive Champions League titles. He led Real Madrid to Champions League triumphs in the 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons before stepping down as manager.

He also won a La Liga, two UEFA Super Cup titles and two FIFA Club World Cup crowns in his first stint with the club. Zidane returned as Real Madrid manager in 2019 and won another La Liga title with the club before leaving at the end of the 2020-21 season. He has enjoyed a stellar managerial career so far and aspires to become the France manager in the future.

“I’m sure I’ll get back into coaching,” Zidane said at an event organised by Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“I’m not saying it’s going to happen now, what I want one day is to coach the national team,” he added.

Will Zinedine Zidane replace Didier Deschamps in 2026?

However, Zidane refused to confirm if he is expecting to take over from the outgoing France manager, Didier Deschamps, who has confirmed he will be stepping down from his post after the FIFA World Cup next year. Deschamps has been in charge of the France national team for 14 years.

He led the team to World Cup triumph in 2018 and the final of the last edition of the tournament in 2022, where they lost to Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the summit clash to miss out on a second successive triumph. Deschamps and Zidane were part of the France team that won the World Cup in 1998.

Despite having been without a job since 2021, Zidane has been linked with managerial roles at multiple clubs, including Manchester United, Juventus and his former club Real Madrid. However, a return has not materialised yet for the France legend. He is reportedly the favourite to replace Deschamps as the France manager next year, and it remains to be seen if the move materialises.