[Saba Sports News] With Didier Deschamps set to step down as head coach of the French national team, Zinedine Zidane has emerged as the overwhelming favourite to take over the reins of Les Bleus. Discussions surrounding Zidane’s potential return to the France dugout now extend far beyond purely on-pitch matters, with the salary terms of his future contract taking centre stage in public debate. As things stand, Zidane and the French Football Federation (FFF) are yet to put pen to paper on a formal deal. French officials are eager to finalise negotiations at speed, yet even if a contract cannot be locked in before new legislation comes into force, special arrangements may still be secured for him. Under France’s upcoming professional sports governance reform, annual gross salaries for staff at all national sporting federations will be capped at €450,000. That said, the regulation includes an exemption mechanism, and the French government has previously acknowledged that high-profile figures such as Zidane qualify for such an exception.
The editor believes that this means if Zinedine Zidane succeeds Didier Deschamps as France head coach, his contractual salary will likely be exempt from the standard wage cap. The French Football Federation could thereby avoid being constrained by the new legislation during negotiations. Besides Zidane himself, members of his future coaching staff are also expected to receive similar special dispensations.