Zinedine Zidane has made a dream start to life as France head coach, and former international team-mate Thierry Henry has underlined the extraordinary stature the legendary midfielder commands within the national team.
Key Highlights
- Zinedine Zidane won his first two matches as France boss, beating Turkey and Belgium 1-0.
- The former Real Madrid manager had long viewed taking charge of France as his ultimate post-Madrid ambition.
- Thierry Henry compared Zidane's standing in football to being “on par with God”.
- France will host Italy and Belgium in back-to-back Nations League fixtures at the Stade de France.
French Icon Fulfils Long-Held Dugout Dream
Zidane's appointment as France manager fulfilled an ambition he had patiently waited for since leaving the Real Madrid dugout. The 54-year-old had made no secret of his desire to eventually take charge of Les Bleus, describing the national team job as the one thing he wanted after Madrid.
His start has been equally impressive. Zidane opened his reign with a 1-0 away victory over Turkey on September 25, becoming the first France coach to win his debut since Aimé Jacquet in 1994. Three days later, France produced another 1-0 victory, this time away to Belgium, giving Zidane maximum points from his opening two fixtures.
Panoramic by PsnewZ
Henry Highlights Zidane’s Extraordinary Status
Watching his former 1998 World Cup-winning team-mate take charge of France has given Henry a close-up view of Zidane's influence. Speaking on RMC's Rothen s'enflamme, the former Arsenal forward described Zidane's standing in football in extraordinary terms, comparing his status within the sport to being “on par with God”.
Henry's comments reflect the unique reputation Zidane carries into the France job. Beyond his achievements as a player, his presence has already generated a strong reaction among the younger members of the national team.
Zidane’s Presence Inspires France’s Next Generation
Henry also pointed to the excitement among France's players since Zidane's arrival. The former striker noted that the squad has already been speaking openly about the new manager, with the players' reactions reflecting the admiration they have for a figure of Zidane's stature.
For a new generation of French internationals, working under one of the country's greatest football icons naturally brings an added level of excitement. Zidane now has the task of turning that enthusiasm into consistent results on the pitch.
Henry also stressed that expectations will remain high. Having seen the pressure previously placed on former France boss Didier Deschamps, he emphasised that Zidane will need to maintain his winning start and continue delivering results.
France Prepare for Italy and Belgium Tests
Zidane's next challenges will come on home soil, with France preparing to host Italy at the Stade de France on Friday before welcoming Belgium to Saint-Denis next Monday.
The back-to-back home fixtures give Zidane an opportunity to build on his perfect start and strengthen France's position at the top of the Nations League group. With two victories already under his belt, the spotlight will now turn to whether the French icon can maintain that momentum through the next phase of his reign.
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