Zidane Unveils His Staff: Barthez to Coach France's Goalkeepers
The French Football Federation has announced the first composition of new coach Zinédine Zidane's technical staff, with legendary goalkeeper Fabien Barthez standing out among the names.
The French Football Federation has announced the first composition of new coach Zinédine Zidane's technical staff, with legendary goalkeeper Fabien Barthez standing out among the names.
The French Football Federation (FFF) officially announced on Thursday, August 13, 2026, the composition of the staff that will support new coach Zinédine Zidane on the national team bench. The news, reported by Le Figaro and France Info, also marks the return of one of France's greatest goalkeepers of all time, Fabien Barthez, who takes on the role of goalkeeping coach.
Barthez, a World Cup winner in 1998, is no stranger to this role, having already served in the same capacity for the national team from 2004 to 2006. His appointment was expected, and federation president Philippe Diallo hinted at it as early as late July, although he declined to officially confirm the information at the time.
Alongside Barthez, the staff includes David Bettoni, Zidane's long-time assistant from his time at Real Madrid, who will serve as assistant coach. Le Figaro's article mentions David Betonnii, while France Info writes Bettoni, referring to the same person with a minor spelling difference in the surname.
Bettoni will be joined as assistant coach by Hamidou Msaidie. The technical side of the staff also includes Grégory Dupont, returning as strategy and performance advisor, Stéphane Plancque as scout, and Farid Tabet and Clément Ybert as assistant video analysts.
The French federation emphasized that the announced list is not final. In a statement carried by Le Figaro, it says: "The staff of the French national team will be supplemented and fully presented at the beginning of September." The final composition will also include a liaison officer, who will be appointed as part of an agreement between the federation and the French Ministry of the Interior.
Grégory Dupont is also a familiar face in the French national team setup, having been part of the staff that won the World Cup title in 2018, then as a fitness coach. His return, combined with Barthez and Bettoni, suggests that Zidane is building a staff with trusted individuals and significant international experience.
