Zidane Appoints Fabien Barthez as France Team's Goalkeeper Coach

Newly appointed France head coach Zinedine Zidane has reunited with his former teammate Fabien Barthez by officially naming him the national team’s goalkeeper coach on Thursday.

Zidane took charge of Les Bleus last month on a four-year contract and finalized his backroom staff by also appointing his trusted aide David Bettoni as assistant coach. Bettoni previously worked alongside Zidane at Real Madrid where the duo guided the Spanish giants to three consecutive Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018.

The inclusion of the 55-year-old Barthez revives a legendary French football partnership. Zidane and Barthez were instrumental in France's golden era also leading the team to victory in the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European Championship.

Barthez earned 87 caps for his country and enjoyed a highly successful club career with Toulouse, Marseille, Monaco and Manchester United. Both men last represented the national team as players during the unforgettable 2006 World Cup final, a match famously marked by Zidane’s red card in extra time.

The newly assembled coaching staff will face their first competitive tests next month. France will travel to face Turkey in the Nations League on September 25 before heading to Belgium for their next fixture three days later.