Zidane, Mancini and Klopp top fresh wave of European national team appointments
On August 05, 2026, several European national teams confirmed new head coaches, with Zinedine Zidane unveiled as France’s chief coach and Roberto Mancini named to return as Italy head coach; other appointments include Juergen Klopp in Germany, Jorge Jesus in Portugal, Slaven Bilic in Croatia and Mark van Bommel in Belgium.
Didier Deschamps stepped down after a 14‑year spell that brought France a World Cup in 2018, a near miss in 2022 and a semifinal finish in 2026, and left following two successive losses to Spain and England; Zidane, 54, said at his first press conference as France chief coach, “This is the only job I wanted after my career with Real Madrid (his second stint ended in 2021). I have always looked at this team through the eyes of a future manager.”
Zidane stated his intention to preserve continuity while applying his own approach, adding, “I am going to ensure continuity so that the French team keeps winning. But we are going to do things differently. Deschamps is Deschamps, [Laurent] Blanc was Blanc and Zizou (his nickname) is Zizou. I am going to do what I know.”
Italy’s federation announced Roberto Mancini on July 29, 2026, a move that follows a turbulent selection process in which technical director Paolo Maldini resigned after two weeks when Andrea Pirlo was not appointed; Maldini had reportedly approached Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti before the FIGC settled on Mancini, who previously led Italy to the 2021 European championship and had left the job for Saudi Arabia three years ago.
Mancini, who replaces Gennaro Gattuso, acknowledged the recent difficulties and signalled his ambition to restore the team’s standing, saying, “I am very sorry. I am also sorry for everything that has happened over the last three years,” and, “I realise that some people will be against me. I am hoping the squad plays well enough so that people forgive me,” the 61‑year‑old added.
Germany appointed Juergen Klopp after Julian Nagelsmann’s resignation; Klopp, 59, who had been on a sabbatical since leaving Liverpool, said, “This is the highlight of my career, and I will give all I have got in order to be successful,” and issued a warning to the media: “If you behave badly, I will be gone. I am not doing this job for myself, I am doing this for you. I am taking this job even though I saw how you treated Julian and Thomas Tuchel.”
Portugal handed the reins to Jorge Jesus, who succeeds Roberto Martinez ahead of the nation co‑hosting the next World Cup with five other countries; Jesus addressed Cristiano Ronaldo’s future, saying, “Both of us will have a conversation about what Cristiano wants to do. I know that he wants to keep playing for Al‑Nassr. I have not spoken to him yet. As long as he is playing and is in a condition to be selected, I will pick him... there are certain limits and conditions that I consider best for the National team.”
Slaven Bilic was “unanimously appointed” by the Croatian federation to replace Zlatko Dalic after Croatia’s exit in the round of 32; Bilic, who previously coached Croatia from 2006 to 2012, said, “I am more mature and experienced than I was in 2006. But I have the same motivation and desire to see Croatia stay powerful, bold and successful. I am genuinely happy to start this challenge, and I am fully prepared for it.”
Mark van Bommel takes over Belgium from Rudi Garcia amid a generational transition that leaves Romelu Lukaku as a prominent remaining figure from the earlier ‘golden generation’; van Bommel said, “Belgium has outstanding players and enormous potential. We want to build a team that is disciplined, ambitious and brave enough to compete with the very best.”
The French federation has publicly set a long‑term goal to recapture the World Cup four years from now, and several incoming coaches have made clear statements about their aims for their national sides as preparations continue ahead of the next global tournament.