Didier Deschamps has snubbed Zinedine Zidane (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
A French World Cup winner has accused Didier Deschamps of deliberately playing down Zinedine Zidane’s glittering career due to personal rivalries over the France national team job.
Deschamps, who has been France’s manager for 12 years and guided them to glory at the 2018 World Cup, shared the pitch with Zidane for Les Bleus. They formed part of an iconic midfield during France’s golden generation, clinching the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, with Zidane often described as the most talented French player of his time.
Like Deschamps, Zidane moved into management after retiring in 2006, enjoying two successful stints in charge of Real Madrid as he led them to three successive Champions League titles. Despite his stunning achievements, the 52-year-old has been out of work since his departure from Madrid in 2021, though he is widely believed to have his sights set on Deschamps’ role managing France.
Zinedine Zidane is rumoured to have his sights set on the France national team job (Image: PA)
Tensions between the two French icons may have come to light when Deschamps, during a Téléfoot interview on TF1, sidestepped naming the best player he ever played alongside. Zidane was a glaring omission and another member of the victorious ’98 squad, Christophe Dugarry, believes it is impossible for Deschamps to speak positively about the Ballon d’Or winner as long as he sees him as competition.
“Of course, he will never put him (on his list),” said Dugarry this Monday on Rothen s’enflamme, on RMC. “He won’t say ‘Zizou’ because he won’t highlight him. Never. The best he has known is obviously Zidane. Who made him win the World Cup? It’s Zidane! Who made him win many things? It’s Zidane. But he will never say it! He will never say it!
“He’s been there for twelve years and he will never make an assist. He has never made an assist in his life so even now he won’t do it. He doesn’t know how to do that. It’s the truth; he will never speak well of a potential competitor.”
Zidane was France’s best player as Deschamps lifted both the World Cup and the Euros trophies (Image: Getty Images)
Deschamps almost led France to glory again at the 2022 World Cup, only to be beaten by Lionel Messi’s Argentina on penalties. The French Football Federation nevertheless showed unwavering support, renewing his contract until June 2026 immediately after their defeat in Qatar.
The 56-year-old’s tactics and negative football came under fire at last summer’s Euros in Germany. And the manager has now boldly left Kylian Mbappe out of the squad ahead of their Nations League fixtures, leaving France’s captain and star player enraged as he considers retiring from international football altogether.
Reports in France suggest Deschamps is facing a revolt from within the dressing room, with players frustrated with his methods and now pushing for Zidane to succeed him. Another 1998 World Cup winner, Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, said two years ago: “I think he [Zidane] is waiting for one thing and one thing only and that’s the national team. Why would you get into club football again when you’ve won three Champions Leagues with Real Madrid?”
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1975885/zinedine-zidane-france-didier-deschamps