In Paris, Deschamps views Zidane as a “natural” choice to succeed him as France’s head coach

France coach Didier Deschamps views Zinedine Zidane as a “natural” choice to take over when he leaves the national team.

Deschamps announced last month that he would step down after the 2026 World Cup, ending a successful period that started in 2012, where France won the 2018 World Cup and reached the 2022 final.

Before Deschamps made his announcement, there was already a lot of speculation about Zidane taking over. Many people consider the former midfielder to be the preferred choice, and Deschamps agrees with that.

“Zizou (Zidane) is a very good candidate, a natural and an expected one,” Deschamps said in an interview with sports daily L’Équipe published Friday. “But then again, I don’t know if he will want it.”

Zidane, 52, has not been a coach since finishing his second stint with Real Madrid, where he won three Champions League titles and two La Liga titles.

Zidane and Deschamps played together in midfield when France won the 1998 World Cup and the European Championship two years later.

France lost to Spain in the semifinals of last year’s Euros, where Kylian Mbappé broke his nose and didn’t score enough goals.

“But at the Euro (Mbappé) wasn’t the only one,” Deschamps said. “Most of the attacking players weren’t at their best for different reasons, and that impacted our competition.”

During a tough start to his Real Madrid career, Mbappé was left out of two squads by Deschamps, leading to rumors of a falling out. In December, a rape investigation in Stockholm, which Swedish media said involved Mbappé, was dropped.

In an interview on French TV station Canal Plus, Mbappé said he hadn’t been contacted by Swedish authorities and was shocked when the reports surfaced after his visit to Stockholm.

Mbappé is back in form and scoring regularly. Deschamps said Mbappé will be called back to the squad in March for Nations League games against Croatia.

“He will be there,” Deschamps said. “He is very attached to the French team, even if he had a complicated period.”

Deschamps couldn’t promise that Mbappé would still be captain, as that also depends on Mbappé’s wishes.

“For my part, yes, he will be captain,” Deschamps said. “But I will talk with him, as we often do.”

Deschamps also mentioned in the interview that he does not regret his decision to step down next year.

“I am not tired or worn out, but I feel that I have done my time. All good things must come to an end,” he said. “The French team is a very good thing, because it represents twenty-five years of my professional life when I combine my two lives.”

He ruled out coaching another national team but remains open to returning to club football.

Before managing France, he led Monaco to the 2004 Champions League final and won Ligue 1 with Marseille in 2010.

“I will decide based on what is offered to me,” Deschamps said. “There are plenty of possibilities.”