Deschamps Who Wants Zidane To Replace Him In The French National Team

JAKARTA - The head coach of the French national team, Didier Deschamps, believes that Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane will lead the 2018 World Cup champions in the near future.

Zidane is in his second coaching period at the Santiago Bernabeu after resigning in May last year. Together with Zizou, Los Blancos won the Champions League title three times in a row.

The Frenchman of Algerian descent, who also won the 1998 World Cup, has long been cited as looking to replace Deschamps in the future. Deschamps did stay in the seat of coach of Les Blues until the 2022 World Cup, but the 51-year-old still supports his friend as his successor.

"The next French coach is Zidane," Deschamps, who has coached the Rooster Team since 2012, told Le Monde, Friday, December 20.

"At one point or another, this (position) must (be given to) him," he continued.

Deschamps has extended his contract until 2022 following satisfactory results in Russia last year. France managed to steal their second World Cup after beating Croatia in the top party.

The former Monaco, Juventus and Marseille coach also led Les Blues in the 2016 European Cup final, but were beaten 1-0 by hosts Portugal through Eder's goal.

The former Juventus midfielder will again lead his team at the 2020 European Cup. In this event, France is in Group F along with Portugal, Germany and one of the play-off winners.

"When you are a coach, there is no age limit," said Deschamps. "In the end, the results determine you."