France's Zidane leads roster of star managers in Nations League campaign

Zidane made his name as the preternaturally gifted talisman of the France national side of the 1990s. The two headers he scored to take Aimé Jacquet's team to a 3-0 win over Brazil in the 1998 World Cup final – France's first trophy at the tournament – etched him into the national consciousness.

He also featured in the squad that lifted the 2000 European championships at the expense of Italy, and more glory has followed as head coach at Real Madrid.

In his first spell at the Santiago Bernabeu, he guided the team to an unprecedented hat trick of Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018. There was also a La Liga crown as well as a Spanish Super Cup, two European Super Cups and two Fifa Club World Cups, although Zidane's second period between 2019 and 2021 brought only the 2020 La Liga title and the Spanish Super Cup.

Hernandez, who played at Barcelona between 1998 and 2015, racked up more silverware than Zidane as a player, with his 25 medals including eight La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns. But his record as a coach pales in significance – seven trophies at Al Sadd SC in Qatar and the La Liga title and Spanish Super Cup in 2023 during a three-year stay at Barcelona.

France legend Zidane succeeds Deschamps as boss of Les Bleus

'Son of Dutch football'

Upon replacing Ronald Koeman as Netherlands head coach, Hernandez highlighted his ties with all things Dutch. He noted that he was handed his Barcelona debut in August 1998 by the Dutchman Louis van Gaal.

He also paid tribute to Barcelona's legendary Dutchmen Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels, who reconfigured the playing and coaching style of the club from the 1970s until the late 1990s.

“As someone who received his training at ‌the Barcelona academy, with strong influences from Cruyff and Michels, among others, I feel a ⁠special connection to ⁠Dutch football,” said the 46-year-old Spaniard.

“You could say that I am a bit of a son of Dutch football. I consider it a tremendous honour to become the national coach of the Dutch national team."

He will face his first test in that role on Thursday night when he sends his Netherlands side out against a Germany squad who are also playing under a new head coach – former Dortmund and Liverpool boss Klopp.

“This is the pinnacle, the absolute high point of my footballing career as coach,” said Klopp, who started his managerial career at Mainz before hitting the big time at Dortmund where he led the side to five trophies, including back to back Bundesliga titles in 2011 and 2012.

“I will give everything I have got,” added the 59-year-old German, who has never coached an international team before. 

Zizou's back: Zinedine Zidane set to take charge of Les Bleus

His mission will be to restore Germany to its former glory. Die Mannschaft won the World Cup in 2014 but exited the tournament after the group stages in 2018 in Russia and in Qatar in 2022.

In 2026, Julian Nagelsmann's team avoided the fate of the two previous squads by finishing top of a pool featuring Ecuador, Cote d'Ivoire and Curaçao, but lost in the last 32 to Paraguay following a penalty shoot-out.

'I've come back to win'

Italy, however, have not qualified for the tournament since 2014. 

Former Italy international Roberto Mancini, who guided the team to the 2020 European championships, returns to the helm after Gennaro Gattuso departed following his failure to take the squad to the 2026 World Cup.

“I've come back to win as quickly as possible,” said Mancini, who has led Lazio, Inter Milan and Manchester City to top-flight titles in a coaching career that began at Fiorentina in 2001.

“My philosophy is to have a team that dominates, plays well and always gives its all," added the 61-year-old Italian. "You can't always win, but we go into every game with the aim of winning.”

Mancini starts his second spell as Italy boss against Mark van Bommel's Belgium on Friday night at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. 

The 49-year-old Dutchman took over the Red Devils in July from Frenchman Rudi Garcia, after he led the Belgium squad to the World Cup's last eight – where they lost to eventual champions Spain. 

Van Bommel's side will also face France and Turkey in League A Group 1.

As the team limbered up for the clash in Rome, Belgium's veteran midfielder Kevin De Bruyne described van Bommel as "a typical Dutchman".

"He's very direct in his dealings. I like that. Just someone who says things as they are."