French FA President: Zidane's appointment is about success, not money

Newly-appointed France national team coach, Zinedine Zidane

PARIS, July 29: French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo has revealed that salary was never a topic of discussion during talks with Zinedine Zidane over taking charge of the national team, as all parties shared the desire to see him succeed Didier Deschamps as France coach.

“Honestly, this is not about money,” Diallo said during an interview with France Inter when asked about Zidane’s potential salary with Les Bleus.

Under new reforms to professional sports approved in France on July 21, salaries for officials of sports federations will be limited to a maximum of €450,000 annually, unless exceptions are approved by the government.

Diallo stressed that supporters are focused on results rather than financial details, saying: “I don’t think this is what our fans are waiting for. They want to see Zidane on the touchline, they want to see the French team win, and they want the national team’s identity — uniting the French people through victories — to be preserved.”

The FFF president was also cautious when discussing expectations for Zidane, emphasizing that every match must be treated with importance to avoid a decline similar to Italy’s recent struggles.

“When we enter a major tournament, the first step is to qualify,” Diallo said. “Looking at some of our neighbors, such as Italy, who have missed three consecutive World Cups, shows that we must always remain alert and never take qualification for granted.