Zinédine Zidane will look to replicate a winning partnership in his new role as coach of the France national team. The renowned coach chose Fabien Barthez, goalkeeper who was part of the world champion team in 1998, to take on the role of goalkeeper trainer for the national team. The information was officially confirmed by the French Football Federation (FFF) on August 13, 2026.
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Barthez, who was Zidane’s teammate in winning France’s first world title, has maintained a strong friendship with the star over the years. After their success with the French national team, the pair continued to meet frequently at events with the ’98 team and at charity matches across the country, further solidifying the bond that now extends to the coaching staff.
In addition to Fabien Barthez, Zidane also recruited professionals who already worked with him during his time at Real Madrid. David Bettoni and Hamidou Msaidie, who worked as assistants to the coach at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, will once again join his coaching staff in France, bringing continuity of work and confidence.
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Completing Zizou’s team, other important names are part of the staff: Grégory Dupont, responsible for strategic and performance consultancy; Stéphane Plancque, specialist in player observation; Farid Tabet, who will be assistant coach and video analyst; and Clément Ybert, video analysis assistant, forming a multidisciplinary group.
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Zidane’s first appointment in charge of the French national team is scheduled for September 25th, in a clash against Turkey, which will take place in Istanbul, valid for the Nations League. In the same period as Data Fifa, the team will also face Belgium and Italy, starting a cycle with great international challenges.