France national team: Blanc, Deschamps, Zidane, the 98 generation at the service of Les Bleus

28 years after the triumph of July 12, 1998, the world champions continue to play a central role within the France national team. From Laurent Blanc to Didier Deschamps, and now Zinédine Zidane, the passing of the torch has happened without any true break. With "Zizou" now at the helm of Les Bleus, several heroes of France 98 could once again be part of this new adventure.

July 12, 1998 forever marked the history of French football. Twenty-eight years later, the legacy of this golden generation is no longer just about memories of Les Bleus’ first world crown. The heroes of that campaign have gradually taken over the technical leadership of the national team, ensuring a rare continuity at the highest level.

The appointment of Zinédine Zidane as head coach of the French team extends this tradition. After Laurent Blanc and then Didier Deschamps, a third 1998 world champion now takes his place on the tricolor bench, with the ambition to lead a new generation to the top.

Laurent Blanc, first world champion on the bench

The first to blaze this trail was Laurent Blanc. In 2010, just weeks after the Knysna trauma, the former central defender was chosen to rebuild a squad in full crisis. Suspended for the victorious 1998 final after his red card against Croatia, Blanc nevertheless became the first world champion from that generation to manage Les Bleus.

His tenure, which ended after Euro 2012, laid the foundations for the French team’s revival and prepared the way for his successor.

Didier Deschamps, fourteen years to build a new dynasty

When Didier Deschamps took charge in 2012, the France 98 continuity continued. The captain of the first world title would go on to write one of the most glorious chapters in Les Bleus’ history.

Across fourteen years at the helm, he led France to the Euro 2016 final, won the 2018 World Cup in Russia, lifted the Nations League in 2021, and reached another World Cup final in 2022. His long reign ended after the 2026 World Cup, leaving behind one of the richest legacies in the history of French football.

Zinédine Zidane, the natural heir

Long awaited, Zinédine Zidane officially succeeds Didier Deschamps. The former playmaker, who scored a historic double in the 1998 World Cup final, will take office on September 1, 2026, with a contract running through to the 2030 World Cup.

Having won three consecutive Champions League titles with Real Madrid between 2016 and 2018, Zidane arrives with a formidable reputation as a builder. His first gathering will also mark a new staff structure, expanding to nearly twenty-five collaborators compared to nineteen under Deschamps.

As at Real Madrid, David Bettoni will be his main assistant, while Hamidou Msaidie will serve as second assistant.

Barthez and Diomède, two world champions expected to join the project

The future staff could also include two more members of the 1998 generation. Fabien Barthez is expected to become the goalkeeping coach. The former keeper would be reunited with Zinédine Zidane more than twenty years after their last involvement together with the national team.

However, his appointment is still subject to a waiver, as Barthez does not yet hold the goalkeeping coach certification required by the French Football Federation. His previous experience with Les Bleus between 2004 and 2012, though, is a strong argument in his favor.

Bernard Diomède is another name in the mix. After several years heading up youth teams at the FFF, he’s built a solid reputation as a developer of talent, notably leading the France U20 side to the World Cup semi-finals in 2025. His knowledge of the new generation could prove invaluable to Zidane’s project.

Thierry Henry, a different path

Among the 1998 world champions, Thierry Henry is the one whose path has diverged most from the France senior team. Never integrated into Didier Deschamps’ staff, the former Les Bleus top scorer chose to become Roberto Martínez’s assistant with Belgium from 2016 to 2022, while also having a spell in charge at AS Monaco.

He finally returned to the French Federation in 2023, taking charge of the U21s and then the Olympic squad. Under his leadership, France reached the final of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and claimed a historic silver medal, before stepping down for personal reasons.

A unique continuity in international football

Since 2010, the French national team has barely stepped outside the influence of the 1998 world champion generation. Laurent Blanc began the transition, Didier Deschamps extended it for fourteen years, and now Zinédine Zidane is set to open a new chapter.

If the arrivals of Fabien Barthez and Bernard Diomède are confirmed, four 1998 world champions will be working simultaneously around the national team. It’s a rare situation in international football: nearly three decades after their triumph, the same generation is still passing on its experience and winning culture to new waves of talent.

This continuity also reflects the trust placed by the French Football Federation in those who shaped one of the greatest chapters in French sporting history. From Clairefontaine to Clairefontaine, the story of Les Bleus continues to be written by the heroes of 1998.

Nouya M'toama

Editorfr, en

Versatile journalist specializing in sports and political news, with extensive experience across radio, print and digital media platforms.

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