Before arriving at the France dugout, Zinedine Zidane had only ever managed Real Madrid.
But you know what he was like, what he won: two La Liga titles, three Champions League trophies, two Uefa Super Cups, two Spanish Super Cups and two Fifa Club World Cups easily make him one of the most successful Madrid coaches of the 21st century, if not ever.
Since 2021 though, when he left Madrid for the final time, he had not gone back to management until he took up the France job this summer, after Didier Deschamps stepped down at the end of the World Cup.
What is it like for him to be back coaching? He says he has always enjoyed it.
“I have always felt it, and I like it,” Zidane says. “I like feeling that tension, I enjoy it.
“But what I love most of all is what I do – being with the players, with this group, that is what I enjoy.”
For him, there is not too much that sets international management apart from club football.
“The demands are the same,” Zidane says. “The difference is that the work with the national team differs from that at club level. I enjoyed the daily work, and today I take on a different role, but my desire to work in harmony with my team has not changed.”
So far, under his auspices, France have won two games by a single goal, against Turkey and Belgium, before drawing 1-1 against Italy. France play Belgium again on Monday in their last game of this international window.
Zidane says he is disappointed the window is coming to an end but wants France to finish it with another positive result.
“It was fantastic to spend 15 days with the players, and I feel a certain frustration at the thought of this period ending,” he says. “We still have one last effort to make to leave the camp happy.”
France will be without key players Belgium. Kylian Mbappe is out with a knee problem he suffered in the opening win against Turkey. Dayot Upamecano is suspended after being sent off against Italy.
“There will be changes, that’s for sure,” Zidane says. “It is our fourth match, and we can’t just do anything. We will make smart changes, and above all, we will do it to be competitive.
“It is to show that we are all involved and that all the players are committed to this team, to demonstrate that there is a lot of competition within the French national team.”
Belgium will also be missing important players, with Kevin De Bruyne and captain Youri Tielemans both suspended. Zidane expects another difficult game.
“They played very well in the first match against us and caused us tactical difficulties,” he says.
“They are capable of many things. Against Turkey, they posed problems for the opposition, so they are strong both collectively and individually.”
