Zidane's debut in front of France: from Beckenbauer to Maradona, the performance of idols at the helm of their national teams

== sync, corrected by elderman == @elder_man

What happens today

This Friday (25), at 15:45 (Brasil time), Zinédine Zidane leads Seleção Francesa for the first time. The opponent is Turkey, in the opening game of the French campaign in the Nations League.

Who got it right: the champions

Franz Beckenbauer Other Germany tried to repeat the formula: Rudi Völler (20002004) was runner-up in 2002 but dropped out of the European Championship; Jürgen Klinsmann stopped at the semifinal of the World Cup 2006.

Fresh or chilled The Brazilian is the case. Champion in 1958 and 1962 as a player, he was the coach of the title 1970 , with one of the most emblematic teams in history. He returned to command after the Cup 1994 (where he was technical coordinator Carlos Alberto Parreira) and reached the final 1998, defeated by host France . Dunga Other , captain of 1994, on two occasions: in the first, he won the Copa América 2007 and the Confederations Cup 2009, but was dismissed after the quarter-finals of the Copa 2010; in the second, from 2014 to mid 2016, fell still in the First Stage of the Centenario America.

Not less than € 67,8 , captain of the French title from 1998, took over the selection in 2012 and only left the post now, in 2026 20] with the Cup of 2018 won on the way.

Who got hurt

Spanish footballer Diego Maradona He took charge of Argentina in 2008, in time to take Lionel Messi already then world best to the World Cup.2010 On the way, Bolivia's historic 6-1 win at La Paz by knockout in 2009. This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption., captain of 1978, dropped in the quarters of 1998 for Netherlands (2 to 1).

French President Michel Platini captained France from 1988 to 1992: did not qualify the country for the 2015 World Cup and was relegated in the first round of the 2016 European Championship. I 've got to go . (2010192012) and JUST Fontaine, French overseas departments and territories of the European UnionIn the '60s, they ran out of money.

Intermediate passages and curious cases

• I 've got to go .: retired at 28 due to an ankle injury, managed the Netherlands from 2004 eighth in 2006 (defeat for Portugal) and fourth in Euro of 2008 , falling in overtime to Russia.
• Dino Zoff: the goalkeeper oldest player to win a World Cup (at 40 years of age), was runner-up in Euro 2004 and left due to criticism from Silvio Berlusconi, then president of Milan.
• Spanish: took charge of Spain in a hurry on 2018, two days before the debut in the Cup, after Lopetegui's dismissal. Elimination in the eighth round to Russia on penalties, and farewell. Then came Luis Enrique 29] departure in 2019 for personal reasons, return in the same year, fired in 2022 after the eight in Qatar. Not less than € 67,8 , from the 1950s to the 1970s, had already led the country in octaves of 1990.
• President of the Republic: legend of Mexico as a player (Cup 1978, 1986 and 1994), took over in 2006, was vice at the Gold Cup 2007 and left office in March 2008 for not qualifying the country to the Olympics.
• I 'm not going anywhere . (20162021) led Ukraine to the quarter-finals of Euro 2000 for the first time in history. This is Stoichkov. (2004[142007) and Hagi (2001, unplaced for the 2010 World Cup2002) had short and discreet passes. Ryan Giggs other took over Wales in 2018, was removed in 2020 to answer a lawsuit from which he was exonerated in 2023, and resigned definitively in June of 2022.

Where does that leave us ?

Zidane's first test serves as a reminder to the fans: being a shirt idol does not guarantee anything on the bench. The history shows that the starting position can end in title like Beckenbauer, Zagallo and Deschamps or in vexation, like Platini and Maradona.