Fabien Barthez, appointed as the goalkeeper coach for the French national team on August 13, has taken on a more extensive role under the guidance of Zinedine Zidane. According to reports from Le Phocéen and L’Équipe, Barthez has been tasked with contributing to the preparation of the team's attackers before matches. He will also share responsibilities with assistant coach David Bettoni in overseeing set pieces, a role previously held by Franck Raviot for 16 years under Didier Deschamps.
Zidane, who has signed a four-year contract with the French Football Federation, took over the team after a disappointing 2026 World Cup campaign. The French team was eliminated in the semi-finals by Spain and then lost to England in the third-place match. Barthez, a 1998 World Cup champion with 87 international caps, will work closely with goalkeepers Mike Maignan, Guillaume Restes, and Jean Butez at the Clairefontaine training facility.
Guillaume Restes, a goalkeeper for Toulouse FC, has been called up to the national team for the first time and will reunite with Barthez, who began his professional career at Toulouse. Butez was summoned to replace the injured Robin Risser. According to Le Phocéen, Barthez's coaching method emphasizes sharing experiences and the joy of playing. He has also been involved in advising field players, providing instructions to Barcola before his substitution against Turkey.
The changes seem to have had a positive impact, as Maignan delivered an impressive performance against Turkey in the Nations League on September 25, helping the team secure a 2-0 victory. Maignan has reportedly adapted quickly to Barthez's coaching style. The French team will face Belgium in their next match, and it remains to be seen how Barthez's expanded role will influence the team's performance.
Barthez has been vocal about his views on goalkeeping, criticizing the tendency for goalkeepers to become "stereotyped" and expressing concerns about the current state of goalkeeper training. In 2022, he expressed his dissatisfaction with the focus on selecting goalkeepers who are close to two meters tall, while in 2023, he praised Maignan's unconventional playing style.
Zidane and Barthez share a familiar bond, having been teammates during France's 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 triumphs. Barthez previously served as a technical advisor for the French national team's goalkeepers from 2010 to 2012 under Laurent Blanc and briefly joined Toulouse's coaching staff in 2020-2021. At 55, this marks his first appointment as goalkeeper coach for the national team.
As the French team prepares to face Belgium, Zidane will have to make further decisions regarding the team's lineup, particularly in light of Kylian Mbappé's injury. The team's performance under Zidane and Barthez's guidance will be closely watched, and their ability to adapt to the new dynamics will be crucial in determining their success.
Key points
- Fabien Barthez takes on additional responsibilities as goalkeeper coach and contributes to the preparation of French national team's attackers and set pieces.
- Zinedine Zidane signs a four-year contract with French Football Federation and looks to improve team's performance.
- French national team faces Belgium in their next match, looking to build on their 2-0 win against Turkey.
