Zidane Returns to Lead France as Son Luca Represents Algeria
Zinedine Zidane is heading back to the France national team, this time not as the artist in midfield but as the man in charge on the touchline. The news that the 1998 World Cup winner has agreed to become head coach of Les Bleus has sent French football into overdrive.
According to L’Équipe, Zidane will officially take over on September 1. Other reports indicate his contract with the national team will run until mid-2030, a long-term commitment that underlines the scale of the project and the faith placed in one of the game’s most iconic figures.
As Zizou prepares to step into the dugout for France, his son has taken a very different route.
Luca Zidane, the son who chose Algeria
While his father returns to the French setup, Luca Zidane turned his back on French international football last September and opted to represent Algeria. The 28-year-old goalkeeper has already worn the green of the North African nation at this World Cup, installed as the team’s starting keeper.
He did it the hard way. Luca played through a recent chin and jaw injury, yet still held onto the No. 1 spot, a clear sign of the trust placed in him and his own determination to seize his chance on the biggest stage.
The contrast is striking. One Zidane preparing to lead France. Another Zidane standing in goal for Algeria.
From Madrid’s academy to La Liga 2
Luca’s story began in the academy of Real Madrid, under the shadow and guidance of his father’s legend. He made his professional debut for the club in 2018, at a time when Zinedine Zidane was head coach at the Bernabéu.
Opportunities were rare but significant. Luca managed two La Liga appearances for Real Madrid before moving on in search of regular football. In 2020, he left the Spanish giants and signed a two-year contract with Rayo Vallecano. During his final season under contract with Real Madrid, he also spent time on loan at Racing de Santander, gaining valuable minutes and experience away from the glare of the capital.
His next step came with SD Eibar, where he spent two seasons between 2022 and 2024. The second-tier side gave him a stable platform, and he established himself as a solid presence in goal in Spain’s fiercely competitive lower division.
That form earned him a move to his current club, Granada CF, also in La Liga 2. It is from there that he has launched his international career with Algeria, building a profile very much on his own terms.
One Zidane now carries the weight of a nation’s expectations on the France bench. The other stands in goal for Algeria, forging a separate legacy in a different shirt. The family name remains the same, but the paths could hardly be more distinct.
