Former Man.United keeper Barthez joins Zidane’s France coaching staff

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.