Zidane Takes Charge of France as Cherki Shines

The wait is over. Zinedine Zidane, the man who defined a generation in a blue shirt, is finally about to lead France from the touchline.

After years of speculation and longing from supporters, the former Real Madrid coach will take charge of Les Bleus for the first time during the current international break. His first squad list has already sent a jolt through the camp, not because of shock inclusions, but because of what his presence represents: a legend returning to shape the present.

Among those called is City’s attacking midfielder Cherki, a player who has quietly moved from promising talent to established international. At 23, he already owns 14 caps and two goals for France, and now finds himself at the start of a new era with a manager whose name still echoes through French football history.

For this generation, Zidane is not just a coach. He is the reference point. Cherki made no attempt to hide what it means.

"It is going to be an honour to join a new manager, especially Zidane," he told Canal+. "We’re looking forward to starting work with him and really enjoying the experience."

There was no need for embellishment. The excitement was written across every word.

Cherki arrives in camp with the sort of form any new manager wants to see. Over the weekend he struck in City’s wild 5-3 Premier League win over Sunderland, a performance that underlined his growing influence. That goal took him to three in five league matches, a sharp, productive start to the domestic season.

Stretch the numbers across all competitions and the picture is even clearer: four goals and two assists in eight games. It is the profile of a player not just knocking on the door, but demanding to be heard.

Now comes the real test. Training this week will give Zidane his first extended look at the group he has inherited and the tactical tools at his disposal. Sessions will be intense, ideas fresh, the scrutiny unforgiving. Players will be judged on how quickly they absorb his demands and how naturally they fit into his vision of France.

For Cherki, that means more than simply showing flashes of skill. It is a chance to convince Zidane he can be a permanent fixture, not just a name on a rotating list of options. His club form has built the platform; international football will decide how high he can climb.

The opportunity is obvious. So is the pressure. A new manager, especially one of Zidane’s stature, resets the hierarchy. Reputations help, but performances decide. Every touch in training, every run, every decision with and without the ball becomes part of a first impression that can last for years.

All eyes will follow Zidane on the touchline when he finally makes that walk in a suit rather than a shirt with No. 10 on the back. Just behind that spotlight, though, players like Cherki will be fighting to ensure this isn’t just the start of the Zidane era, but the moment their own international careers move into a different gear.

Zidane’s debut will define the tone. Cherki’s response may help define his future.