# Zinedine Zidane named France head coach in long-awaited return

France has appointed legendary former player Zinedine Zidane as head coach of the national football team, fulfilling a long-anticipated homecoming. Zidane, a World Cup winner and former Real Madrid manager, takes over with high expectations to lead the team. His appointment is significant due to his iconic status and the hope he brings to French football.

**Importance:** 3/5

## Sources

### Sports
- [The Guardian Sport](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jul/28/france-zinedine-zidane-head-coach-long-awaited-homecoming) — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 09:45:25 GMT
- [BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/videos/cpvwkdnpgkpo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss) — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 13:36:50 GMT

### World
- [Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/7/28/mancini-to-become-italy-head-coach-for-second-time-source-says?traffic_source=rss) — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 13:19:48 +0000