Zidane reveals his next step as a coach

Zinedine Zidane has acknowledged that he would like to someday become the coach of Juventus, the club where he played between 1996 and 2001, during his appearance before the media ahead of the Italy-France match on November 12, 2026 at San Siro. The current French national team coach has not set a date for this potential return to Turin, but he has made it clear that he considers managing the Italian team if he continues his career on the benches.

Zidane recalls Marcello Lippi and his time at Juventus

Zidane's relationship with Juventus explains a large part of his interest in coaching the Italian team. The Frenchman arrived in Turin in 1996, coming from Girondins de Bordeaux, and stayed for five seasons before signing with Real Madrid in 2001.

During his time with the bianconeri, he worked with Marcello Lippi, a figure who had a direct influence on his football development. The Italian coach helped him understand tactical aspects that would later also shape his career as a coach.

Zidane particularly remembered the training sessions dedicated to working on collective movements. He explained that Lippi reserved about 30 minutes daily for tactical matters, a methodology that allowed him to expand his knowledge of the game.

He also acknowledged that his first months in Italy were not easy. Adapting to Italian football took time, but the confidence he received from Lippi proved decisive in solidifying his place on the team. For this reason, the Frenchman maintains a special bond with the Turin club.

🚨⚪️⚫️ Zinedine Zidane: “I’d be happy to be Juventus manager one day, yes. I’d like it. But no one knows what happens in football”. https://t.co/Li4atBTns8

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 11, 2026

France is now the focus of Zinedine Zidane

Aside from his desire to coach Juventus one day, Zidane's current focus is linked to the France national team. The coach is preparing for the match against Italy, which is part of the group stage of the Nations League, taking place this Thursday, November 12 in Milan.

The press conference was also marked by the absence of Kylian Mbappé, who will not be available for the match due to muscle discomfort. Zidane explained that the coaching staff has decided not to take risks with the forward and hopes to have him back for the next match against Turkey.

The coach also recalled his experience as a player at Juventus to analyze the Italian style of play. He emphasized the importance that Italian football traditionally places on defensive work, a characteristic he knows well from his time in Serie A.

Therefore, Zinedine Zidane's future leaves a door open to Turin again, although without concrete timelines. His immediate priority is to lead France in their upcoming international commitments. The possibility of coaching Juventus remains an aspiration that Zidane has publicly acknowledged and could become significant when he decides to embark on a new chapter in club football.