The French Football Federation (FFF) confirmed on Thursday that legendary goalkeeper Fabien Barthez is joining the coaching staff of newly appointed France head coach Zinedine Zidane. The 55-year-old, who famously played alongside Zidane during France’s 1998 World Cup triumph on home soil, will take charge of the national team’s goalkeepers.
Barthez brings extensive experience to the role, having played for Toulouse, Monaco, Marseille, and Manchester United throughout his career. His previous international coaching involvement includes serving as a consultant under managers Raymond Domenech and Laurent Blanc, though he did not hold a position during Didier Deschamps’ 14-year tenure. Additionally, he spent time on the coaching staff at Toulouse between 2020 and 2021.
The FFF also confirmed several other key appointments to support Zidane, who officially succeeded Deschamps on July 28 following France’s exit in the World Cup semi-finals. Assistant coaches David Bettoni and Hamidou Msaidie, both of whom worked closely with Zidane during his two stints at Real Madrid, have joined the setup. Furthermore, Gregory Dupont has been brought on as the team’s Strategy and Performance Advisor, a position he previously held while working with the 54-year-old manager in Madrid.
Zidane is scheduled to lead his first training camp this September. His debut match at the helm of the national team will take place on September 25, when France travels to face Turkey in a Nations League fixture.
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