Mention ‘France head coach’, our muscle memory will instantly direct us to the unassuming figure of Didier Deschamps. After all, he served his role with distinction for as many as 14 years, leading Les Bleus to heights only a few football heavyweights have scaled.During a decade of dominance on the World Cup stage, the 57-year-old masterminded the creation of a second star on the royal blue jersey (2018), had a so-near-yet-so-far moment (2022) and signed off with another semifinal appearance (2026).Deschamps may not have stayed as cool as a cucumber in the phase that preceded his walk into the sunset — France lost to Spain and England in his last two matches in-charge — but he has left a seat which will remain hot. Occupying the spot will be Zinedine Zidane.THE GISTTHE GISTZidane has finally landed his dream job after years of wait, and now has the near-impossible task of bettering or matching his predecessor Deschamps’ outstanding managerial recordMancini, who was not the first choice, will hope to take Italy back to a stage it ruled quite a few times after hitting an all-time low of not qualifying for the last three World CupsKlopp too has taken up an ultra-challenging project with Germany nowhere close to being the winning machine it once was, having exited early in each of the last three editionsPortugal — co-host of the next showpiece with five other nations — prepares for the inevitable post-Cristiano Ronaldo era and has handed the keys to veteran JesusBilic — bracing for a second spell with Croatia — will look to steer the team in a new direction after it came close twice to winning the biggest prize of them allThe legendary midfielder has finally landed his dream job after years of wait, and he now has the near-impossible task of bettering or matching his predecessor’s outstanding managerial record. “This is the only job I wanted after my career with Real Madrid (his second stint ended in 2021). I have always looked at this team through the eyes of a future manager,” the 54-year-old said in his first press conference as France chief coach.Zidane will inherit a richly talented squad that was put together by Deschamps, a master who oversaw multiple transitions in the national team. Excited by the prospect of coaching an “extraordinary” bunch, he began “dreaming” the day he officially took over as the boss.“I am going to ensure continuity so that the French team keeps winning. But we are going to do things differently. Deschamps is Deschamps, [Laurent] Blanc was Blanc and Zizou (his nickname) is Zizou. I am going to do what I know,” he added.The French Football Federation would not mind the “changes” one bit if he maintains high standards in a result-based business. The long-term ‘goal’, without a doubt, is to recapture the biggest prize four years from now. “It (the role) is a responsibility. Needless to say, I have high ambitions. On the pitch, I was a leader. Now, I am becoming a leader through my experience.”