Friday, August 14, 2026 - Former Manchester United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez has reunited with Zinedine Zidane after being appointed France’s new goalkeeping coach.
The 55-year-old was unveiled as part of Zidane’s new
coaching staff on Thursday, August 13, after the former Real Madrid manager
replaced Didier Deschamps as France head coach. Barthez will take charge of the
national team’s goalkeepers, replacing Franck Raviot, as France begins
preparations for Euro 2028 in England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of
Ireland.
The appointment reunites Barthez and Zidane, who were key
members of France’s golden generation. The pair helped Les Bleus win the 1998
World Cup on home soil before adding the Euro 2000 title two years later. Their
relationship has continued since they retired from professional football, with
the former teammates regularly meeting at reunions involving France’s 1998
squad and charity matches.
Barthez won 87 caps for France and became the team’s
first-choice goalkeeper shortly after Euro 1996, retaining the position until
his international retirement in 2006. He is also well known to Manchester
United supporters after Sir Alex Ferguson brought him to Old Trafford from
Monaco in 2000. Barthez spent four seasons with United, making 139 appearances
and winning two Premier League titles.
Zidane has also brought another familiar face into his new
coaching setup, with David Bettoni joining the staff after previously working
alongside him during both of his spells in charge of Real Madrid between 2016
and 2018 and 2019 and 2021.
Hamidou Msaidie, Gregory Dupont, Stephane Plancque, Farid
Tabet and Clement Ybert complete the rest of Zidane’s technical team. France’s
first test under Zidane will come on September 25, when they travel to Turkey
in the Nations League.
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