Kylian Mbappé has described the appointment of Zinedine Zidane as France head coach as something that feels “like a film”, given the remarkable history between the two figures.
Mbappé first met Zidane around 15 years ago when, as a young teenager, he travelled to Real Madrid for a trial with the club’s youth set-up. At the time, Zidane was already one of the most celebrated figures in world football. Today, the relationship has taken an unexpected turn, with Zidane now responsible for leading Mbappé and his France team-mates at international level.
Zidane will take charge of France for the first time when they face Turkey in the UEFA Nations League on Friday. The match marks the beginning of a new era for the two-time world champions, with the team embarking on a fresh cycle as preparations begin for the 2028 European Championship.
Speaking about the appointment in an interview with Spanish media, Mbappé recalled the first time he encountered Zidane at Real Madrid. He said Zidane was the first person to pick him up in a car to take him to the club’s training centre when he was only 13 or 14.
That early meeting has remained a memorable part of Mbappé’s football journey. Years later, the teenager who once arrived at Real Madrid hoping to impress during a trial will now play for the French national team under the guidance of the same man.
Mbappé said the situation felt like a film, describing it as extraordinary while stressing that the most remarkable part was that it had actually happened.
The France captain is also looking beyond the emotional significance of Zidane’s arrival. He sees the Nations League fixtures as the beginning of a longer preparation period for the European Championship, with the team expected to use the matches to establish its direction under the new coach.
“We are starting a new process with France,” Mbappé said. “We have two years to prepare for the European Championship, and that is our main objective now. A new era is beginning with the new coach. We have four Nations League matches, so we will see how they go.”
The change in leadership comes after a difficult World Cup campaign for France. The team were eliminated by Spain in the semi-finals in July after suffering a heavy defeat. The result brought an end to their latest World Cup run and was followed by the beginning of a new phase with the 2028 European Championship now forming a major long-term target.
For Zidane, the appointment represents a return to the centre of French football in a different role. He previously played a defining part in the national team’s history, while his successful managerial career at club level established him as one of the most prominent French coaches of his generation.
For Mbappé, however, Zidane’s arrival carries an unusually personal dimension. Their paths first crossed when the France forward was still a teenager attempting to make his mark at Real Madrid. Now, after years of separate careers and major achievements, the two are beginning a new chapter together with the national team.
Friday’s Nations League meeting with Turkey will therefore be more than Zidane’s first appearance in the France dugout. It will also mark the opening match of a new international cycle, with Mbappé and his team-mates beginning their preparations for the 2028 European Championship under a coach whose connection with the France captain stretches back to his earliest ambitions in professional football.
