Zidane will not be capped at €450,000 per year

Zinedine Zidane, tipped to replace Didier Deschamps as head coach of the French national team, is unlikely to be subject to the €450,000 annual salary cap. This was confirmed by Senators Laurent Lafon and Michel Savin, who were guests on Tuesday’s *L’After Foot* show on RMC, where they detailed a key amendment to the professional sports reform passed by the National Assembly and the Senate.

The two senators explained that this amendment is part of a broader reform of professional sports in France. “This text aims to regulate salaries in football, but it includes exceptions for national team head coaches,” Laurent Lafon clarified. Michel Savin added that “the French national team deserves special consideration,” justifying Zidane’s future salary being excluded from the measure. Parliamentary debates led to the adoption of the text after months of discussions. The senators emphasized the importance of maintaining the competitiveness of the French national team while ensuring financial balance in professional football. As Zidane remains the frontrunner to take charge of the *Bleus*, another name is circulating to strengthen the technical staff. Michael Olise, mentioned by Clichy as a future star of the French team, could join the technical staff. “He has everything to succeed, and his technical profile is an asset,” the former French international stated. At the same time, Zidane’s salary remains a sensitive issue. The senators reiterated that “the head coach must be able to compete with foreign counterparts” without increasing the clubs’ payroll burden. This stance could evolve if Zidane is appointed. The €450,000 annual cap, intended for professional club coaches, will therefore not apply to the French national team. “This is a justified exception due to the specificity of the role,” Michel Savin insisted. Laurent Lafon confirmed that “this measure aims to attract the best profiles without restricting their compensation.”