Monumental news rocked the world of football over the past month, as it was revealed that legendary France boss Didier Deschamps will step down as head coach of Les Bleus following the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup.
With a World Cup win and Nations League victory under his belt, it will be a sad day for French football when the coveted manager steps away from the side that he managed since 2012.
Wildly successful, having made 103 appearances for France himself, Deschamps has presided over 165 games, winning a staggering 106 times and losing on only 28 occasions.
The former midfielder has built up an illustrious career in management that has spanned almost 25 years, as he also led 208 games for Monaco during a four-year spell and 163 outings for Marseille between 2009 and 2012.
Other than the Euros, the 2016 iteration of which saw Deschamps France finish as runners-up to Portugal, the French boss has won it all on the international stage, and can walk away from the team as one of the country's greatest managers.
Now, multiple eager individuals are queuing up to replace Deschamps, with the current favourite being former Real Madrid boss and French national team hero Zinedine Zidane.
France next manager odds: Current favourites
Zinedine Zidane – 6/4
Himself a Euros and World Cup winner with France, legendary attacking midfielder Zinedine Zidane has been touted to make a sensational return to management by leading the country for which he made 108 appearances.
Zidane has also proven himself to be a wildly successful leader over the last decade, winning two La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues while in charge of Real Madrid. It seems fitting that the Frenchman, whose family are of Algerian descent, established his managerial career with the side with whom he won both the league and Champions League between 2001 and 2003.
Remembered infamously for his headbutt on Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup final, it is often imprudently overlooked that Zidane made 155 league appearances for Los Blancos, scoring 37 times and winning a plethora of personal accolades.
It is also crucial to note that he picked up the Ballon d'Or while playing for Juventus in 1998.
Having won virtually everything as a player and manager on the domestic stage, it would seem a fitting return to management for Zidane if he were to venture into the realm of international football. With a Euros and World Cup already under his belt as a player, perhaps he can repeat the feat as boss of his country.
His odds of becoming the next France manage is 6/4, and so Zidane is the firm favourite.
Gareth Southgate – 8/1
Sensationally, former England boss Gareth Southgate has been priced at 8/1 to take over as France head coach. Despite being unable to secure England's first trophy since 1966, Southgate did lead the nation to two finals in both the Euros and World Cup, but they ended in heartbreak against Italy and Spain, respectively.
Southgate's record as England boss is actually rather impressive, as he managed 64 wins from 102 games, losing only 18 times.
After leaving his role in July 2024, he was replaced by former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel, and has been without a position for the past half a year. With the France job becoming vacant, Southgate may favour another bite at the cherry in international football, rather than a return to domestic management.
Most fail to remember that Southgate managed Middlesbrough for 151 games, but won only 47 times in that period, averaging 1.21 points per game.
Although he is a firm outsider for the France job, 8/1 odds would provide an excellent return on investment.
Jose Mourinho – 10/1
Although it would be a move that would shock the football world, the likelihood of Jose Mourinho becoming manager of the French national team seems awfully slim. Currently head coach of Fenerbahce, with whom he has won 21 of his 34 games in charge, the outspoken Portuguese manager has had an incredible career in which he has collected almost every trophy in existence.
While stranger things have certainly happened in football, it seems unlikely that international football would be the next move for Mourinho, who has managed a few lower-calibre teams since departing Manchester United in 2018.
His odds stand at 10/1 for the position, but we feel this move seems far from probable at present.
Lifelong Ipswich Town supporter who recently graduated from Durham University in French and German. Have developed a passion for European football based on my links abroad and am an avid supporter of Werder Bremen and Auxerre. Joined the MFT team in October 2024 and looking to take my first steps into the world of football journalism.
