Baghdad: The French Football Federation is set to announce Zinedine Zidane as the new coach of "Les Bleus" on Tuesday. The federation revealed in a statement on Thursday that a press conference will be held next week to officially present the "next coach of the French national team" to the media.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Zidane, aged 54, emerges as the leading candidate to replace Didier Deschamps, whose coaching era began in 2012 and culminated with the 2018 World Cup victory. Deschamps concluded his term in the United States after France secured a fourth-place finish in the 2026 World Cup.

Since parting ways with Real Madrid in 2021 after a successful second stint, Zidane has openly expressed his desire to lead the French national team. His ambition aligns with the legacy of his esteemed former teammates, Laurent Blanc and Didier Deschamps, who previously held the coaching position.

Zidane's coaching r©sum© includes a remarkable tenure with Real Madrid, the sole club he has managed, where he achieved unprecedented success by guiding the team to three consecutive Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018. As a former French international midfielder, Zidane's playing career was equally illustrious, highlighted by winning the World Cup in 1998 and the European Championship in 2000.