Real Madrid: Zinedine Zidane is unsurprisingly France’s dream target

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane commands respect from all corners of the football world, so it comes as no surprise that France are targeting him as their dream candidate to eventually replace Didier Deschamps.

Zinedine Zidane’s track record of success at Real Madrid is staggering. In three seasons in his first stint with the club, Zidane won three Champions League titles, which is an unprecedented level of success in the competition.

And shortly into his second stint with the club, he has a new-look Real playing like one of the best teams in the world behind a stingy defense and world-class midfield that has made up for a rash of serious injuries in the attack.

Zidane’s excellent tactical and man-management work haven’t gone unnoticed by the French national team, who would love to work with their legendary player in the future.

According to AS, France Football Federation president Noel Le Graet recently stated that France will target Zidane as Deschamps’ replacement whenever the reigning World Cup champion leaves the managerial role with the national team. Deschamps is signed through the 2022 World Cup.

Le Graet succinctly said:

"“The day Didier decides to leave or his contract is not renewed, if Zidane is available at that time, he will be the man for the job.”"

France can’t commit to whether Deschamps will stay with the club after the next World Cup, and while he’s done a good job with the national team, he isn’t quite on the caliber of manager as Zidane, who is understandably the dream candidate from the federation’s perspective. He’s accomplished so much as a player and manager.

If Zidane were to manage France, he’d get a chance to manage Paul Pogba and then Kylian Mbappe in the prime of his career, perhaps even after guiding Mbappe at Real Madrid.

Whatever the future holds for Zidane, it truly is a blessing for Madridistas to have a manager of Zidane’s caliber leading the club into its next era of greatness. As France’s interest shows, he is held in incredibly high regard around the world.