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# Man Utd icon set for job offer after England World Cup bronze medal win

- **Source:** 
- **Club:** Manchester United
- **Original URL:** https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-utd-france-world-cup-34316582

The 2026 World Cup is coming to an end, with just the final left to play on Sunday between Spain and Argentina in New Jersey.

France reached the semi-final of the tournament, losing 2-0 to Spain and went on to be beaten 6-4 by England in the third-place play-off match on Saturday night to secure the Bronze medal.

The game in Miami is widely expected to have been Didier Deschamps's final match as France head coach, with Real Madrid legend Zidane reported to be the favourite to take over the job.

L’Equipe have reported that Barthez has emerged as a contender to join Zidane’s coaching team as a goalkeeper coach.

It has not been stated when France are expected to confirm Zidane as their new manager, with suggestions that an announcement could happen next week or the following week.

Frmer United shot-stopper Barthez spent four years at Old Trafford from 2000-04, winning two Premier League titles along the way and won the World Cup with France as a player in 1998, two years before he moved to Manchester.

During his time as a United player, Barthez made 139 appearances for the Reds following his arrival from Monaco for £7.8million, which was a British record fee for a goalkeeper at the time.

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After a brief loan spell with Marseille at the end of the 2003/04 season, Barthez went on to join the Ligue 1 club on a permanent deal the following summer and saw his time as a United player come to an end.

Should Zidane and Barthez be confirmed as members of the France coaching staff, the first match of the new era could be on September 25 when Les Bleus face an away trip to Turkey in the Nations League, before going away from home again to face Belgium on September 28.

Zidane’s first home game as France boss could then happen on October 2 against Italy, before facing Belgium once again just a few days later on October 5.