Philippe Diallo Reveals Secret Meeting with Zinédine Zidane for France Manager Role

Philippe Diallo, the president of the French Football Federation (FFF), has shared details about a discreet meeting he had with Zinédine Zidane during the winter to discuss the position of national team manager.

While Zidane's appointment as Didier Deschamps' successor was widely anticipated and officially announced on August 11th, the public was eager to hear the legendary French footballer's own words about taking the helm.

Just a week before announcing his first squad on September 18th, FFF President Philippe Diallo, who played a key role behind the scenes in securing Zidane, recounted a secret encounter in Paris during February on the show "Génération After" on RMC. This was his first meeting with the former French number 10.

'I Immediately Felt His Desire, His Passion'

"It was very shortly after Didier Deschamps announced his wish not to continue with the French national team," Diallo revealed. "It was somewhat secret because I always said I didn't want to disrupt the current team. It happened very confidentially in Paris. I wanted to confirm what I already suspected: his immense desire to lead the French national team. I immediately felt his desire, his passion. This is someone who refused lucrative contracts for five years! He turned them all down to be at the head of the Blues."

The FFF president continued, "And he said the phrase I've now revealed: 'I know how to win.' Today, what do we want? For France to win titles. So you have a French football icon who has proven himself as a coach, who spends five years waiting for the position... You meet him, and he tells you with emotion: 'It's my dream. I can't have left the Blues in 2006 without being able to continue the adventure.' My pride is that I gave him the opportunity to continue with the Blues," concluded Philippe Diallo. Zinédine Zidane will manage his first match as the French national team manager on September 25th in Turkey during a Nations League game.