I don't think many football fans were surprised to see Zinedine Zidane become the new France head coach. If anything, it felt like something that was always going to happen sooner or later.
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For years, we kept hearing rumors linking him with different clubs. Every time a big managerial job became available, Zidane's name would appear. Some people expected him to return to Real Madrid, while others believed he would end up in the Premier League. Instead, he stayed away from coaching completely.
Now we know why.
According to Zidane, he rejected every offer because the France national team was the only job he wanted. Looking back, that decision makes a lot more sense now. It takes real patience to wait five years for one opportunity, especially when some of the biggest clubs in the world are interested in you.
I actually admire that. These days, many managers don't stay unemployed for long because another opportunity is always around the corner to take. Zidane could have chosen the easy route, but he decided to wait for what he believed was the perfect role.
That being said, he is not walking into an easy situation.
Didier Deschamps has done an incredible job with France over the last decade. Winning the World Cup, lifting the Nations League, and regularly reaching the latter stages of major tournaments is an outstanding record. Following someone with that kind of success is never simple because fans will naturally compare everything Zidane does.
The positive side is that Zidane understands what it takes to win. His spell at Real Madrid proved that. Winning three Champions League titles in a row is something very few managers can boast about, so confidence certainly won't be lacking.
Still, coaching a national team is something different from managing a club. You only get limited time with the players, which means every training camp and every match becomes important. It will be interesting to see whether Zidane sticks with the style France have been using or gradually introduces something different.
One thing I liked from his first interview was that he didn't talk about changing everything overnight. Instead, he spoke about building on what already exists while adding his own ideas. To me, that sounds like the right mindset because France already have one of the strongest squads in world football currently.
I'm genuinely looking forward to seeing how his first few games go. There will be pressure from day one, but that's nothing new for someone like Zidane. Throughout his career, he has always seemed comfortable when expectations are at their highest.
As a football fan, I think this is one of the most exciting managerial appointments in international football. Whether he can match what Deschamps achieved is another question, but there's no doubt he will have the players and the quality to give it a real shot.
Now the waiting is over. Zidane has the job he always wanted, and the next chapter of France's story begins.
Posted Using INLEO