Fabien Barthez, a member of France’s 1998 World Cup-winning side, is set to join Zinedine Zidane’s coaching team with the national team, the French Football Federation (FFF) has confirmed.
The 55-year-old former goalkeeper will oversee France’s goalkeeping department. Barthez and Zidane were teammates when France lifted the trophy on home ground in 1998.
During his playing career, Barthez represented Toulouse, Monaco, Marseille and Manchester United. He later served as a consultant to the French national team under Raymond Domenech and Laurent Blanc, but had no involvement throughout Didier Deschamps’ 14-year spell in charge.
Barthez also held a short-term position on Toulouse’s coaching staff between 2020 and 2021.
The FFF confirmed a number of additional changes to the France backroom team.
David Bettoni and Hamidou Msaidie have been named assistant coaches. Both are long-time associates of Zidane and worked with him during his two periods as Real Madrid manager.
Gregory Dupont is another addition, taking the role of “Strategy and Performance Advisor” after also working with Zidane at the Spanish club.
Zidane, 54, was appointed on July 28 as Deschamps’ successor, following France’s defeat in the World Cup semi-finals. He will lead his first national-team training camp in September.
His opening match in charge will come away against Turkey in the Nations League on September 25.
