Fabien Barthez is returning to the French national team to reunite with Zinedine Zidane, now as the national team’s new goalkeeper coach.
The former goalkeeper was named to the position on Thursday as part of the coaching staff led by Zidane, who took over as France’s head coach last month under a four-year contract.
The appointment will allow two legendary figures in French soccer to work together again. Zidane and Barthez were teammates on the national team that won the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European Championship.
Barthez played 87 matches for France, and his last appearance with the national team came in the 2006 World Cup final. In that match, Zidane was sent off during extra time after headbutting Italian defender Marco Materazzi.
At 55, Barthez returns to the national team after a career that also included stints with Toulouse, Marseille, Monaco, and Manchester United.
Zidane also announced part of his coaching staff on Thursday. David Bettoni was named assistant coach, reviving the partnership the two had at Real Madrid. Under Zidane’s leadership, the Spanish club won three consecutive Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018.
France’s new era will begin with two matches in the Nations League. The team will visit Turkey on September 25 and, three days later, will play an away match against Belgium.
