The French Football Federation (FFF) is preparing to offer Zinedine Zidane a salary above the current €450,000 monthly limit as it steps up plans to appoint the legendary former midfielder as the next head coach of the French national team. According to L’Equipe, the federation will seek a special exemption from the French Ministry of Sports to approve the higher wage, with the request expected to be granted without difficulty.
The move signals France’s determination to secure Zidane’s long-anticipated appointment as successor to Didier Deschamps, whose successful spell in charge is expected to come to an end. Deschamps guided France to the 2018 FIFA World Cup title in Russia, led Les Bleus to the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar, and steered the team to a semi-final finish at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Zidane, who won three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles as Real Madrid manager, has long been regarded as the leading candidate for the France job. His appointment would mark the beginning of a new era for one of international football’s most successful national teams.
The transition would also carry historical significance. Both Deschamps and Zidane were central figures in France’s iconic 1998 World Cup-winning squad, which claimed the country’s first world title on home soil. If confirmed, Zidane will now have the opportunity to build on the legacy of his former teammate by leading Les Bleus into the next phase of international competition.
