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Domenech on Zidane's France appointment: Experience strong, media handling a question
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Former France national team manager Raymond Domenech has offered his assessment of Zinedine Zidane's appointment as the new head of Les Bleus. Zidane was officially invested by French Football Federation President Philippe Diallo on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, succeeding Didier Deschamps after his 14-year tenure. In an interview with Ouest France, Domenech acknowledged Zidane's background, experience, and notoriety as assets for conveying messages to the squad, but questioned how the former Real Madrid coach would handle the media, his reserved image, and player interaction at the international level. Domenech, who managed France from 2004 to 2010 and led the team to the 2006 World Cup final, emphasized that results will ultimately determine perceptions of Zidane's communication style and leadership.
Source report
By: Aurélien Macedo Updated: 07/28/2026 16:04
Credit: @Maxppp
Zinedine Zidane has been officially appointed as head of the France national team, invested by President Philippe Diallo at the helm of Les Bleus this Tuesday. The landmark moment marks the end of Didier Deschamps' 14-year tenure and the beginning of a new chapter under the former Real Madrid coach.
Former France manager Raymond Domenech, who led the team from 2004 to 2010, commented on Zidane's arrival in an interview with Ouest France.
"The essence of the manager's job is to quickly extract the best from a group. Zidane has that background, that experience, that notoriety to convey messages. Experience will give us the answer, but we can assume yes (he can succeed). But it's a different job from being a club coach. I don't know how he'll handle the media, his reserved image, his interaction with the players. […] If he gets results, the way he speaks will follow. It's the internal discourse that matters. If there are no results, then questions follow."
Domenech was a finalist in the 2006 World Cup with France.
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Source
Foot Mercato : Info Transferts Football - Actu Foot TransfertWestern
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Zinedine Zidane to Become French National Team Coach After Deschamps Era