Newly appointed France head coach Zinedine Zidane has disclosed that he declined numerous job offers over the last five years, solely to take charge of Les Bleus. Zidane's announcement came during a press conference on Monday after Didier Deschamps stepped down from his position.

Having not held a managerial role since his second stint at Real Madrid, Zidane was linked to prestigious roles, including Manchester United. He stated, "In the last four or five years, I had offers to join a club and I refused them all for the France national team. This job is the only job I wanted to do after my career with Real Madrid."

Zidane emphasized his long-standing admiration for the French national team, both as a fan and a future manager. "I kept myself away from those teams. I had great projects, and could have done them for two or three years," he noted.

His eagerness to succeed Deschamps intensified after the announcement of Deschamps' resignation in early 2025. Zidane met with French FA president Phillippe Diallo in February 2025, leading to his current role.

Zidane's tenure follows a successful era under Deschamps, where France clinched the 2018 World Cup and the 2021 Nations League. He expressed confidence in his winning pedigree, having secured two La Liga titles and three consecutive Champions League trophies at Real Madrid.

Diallo commented on Zidane's appointment, stating, "I knew he had the desire and the confidence to take charge of the team."

While acknowledging Deschamps’ impactful style, Zidane asserted, "I want to maintain continuity so that the French team keeps winning." He expressed no concerns about transitioning to a national team coach, highlighting the squad's potential and his deep engagement with the game during his five-year hiatus.