France: Zidane arrives, even Adidas gives the green light

Didier Deschamps having decided not to extend his contract at the head of the France team after 2026, Zinedine Zidane is the overwhelming favorite. All the planets are aligning for Zizou.

Thierry Henry having already made it known that he did not see how the position of coach could not be entrusted to Zinedine Zidane, the French Football Federation could quickly decide to complete a deal with the French football star so that everything is settled in 2026 when Didier Deschamps returns after the World Cup. For this, however, the FFF must quickly resolve a problem linked to marketing, namely that Zinedine Zidane has a personal contract with Adidas while the France team has a huge advertising contract with Nike. According to the specialists, all this should be easily resolved, no one having an interest in being the one who can prevent Zinedine Zidane from being coach of the France team.

Adidas and Nike will agree for Zidane

Responding to Parisian on this subject, Virgile Caillet admits that Nike and Adidas have every interest in agreeing on this subject, because the two equipment manufacturers will be able to benefit from the arrival of Zizou on the bench of the France team. « In my opinion, there is nothing insurmountable. Things are even relatively comfortable in the sense that the Federation has eighteen months to define the perimeters of each of the two brands. No one would benefit from getting into any controversy. Zidane is such the ultimate icon that everyone will seek to consolidate their position without going into conflict », Explains the sports marketing specialist. This is what Vincent Chaudel, co-founder of the Sports Business Observatory, confirms in the Ile-de-France daily: “ As a coach, he would necessarily be required to wear official uniforms. But if he is invited on a show where he is followed in his daily life for example, it would be a little different. We can imagine greater tolerance »

It remains to be seen when the French Football Federation will make its final choice, even if there is no real suspense, and especially when Philippe Diallo will make the long-awaited announcement. A priori, this could happen faster than expected, Didier Deschamps not being at all opposed to a very calm transfer of power with his teammate 1998 world champion.