SpotlightDaily Mail FootballUnverified source· 25 Sept 2026
Zidanemania grips Paris as Zidane era begins
Zidane's France debut is overshadowing even a papal vigil at the Stade de France.
Z. Zidane
coach
Role
France manager
First game
Away to Turkey
Home games
Italy and Belgium
Tickets
Sold out in record time
What happened. Zinedine Zidane takes charge of France for the first time, away to Turkey, with his return sparking what L'Equipe calls 'Zidanemania'. He has banned media from players' training arrivals to cut the showbiz from the national set-up.
- His first France game will be shown on main network TF1, outranking the Pope's televised vigil.
- Zidane's first two Stade de France home games, against Italy and Belgium, sold out in record time.
- He spent about ten minutes mingling with roughly 100 fans outside FFF headquarters after naming his first squad.
“An aura, almost a halo, accompanied him.”
— Vincent Duluc, L'Equipe
Zidane must now transform a fragile France side, with Italy and Belgium next up at the Stade de France.
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