Aimé Jacquet shares emotional reunion with Zidane

Aimé Jacquet’s appearance at the Stade de France gave France’s latest Nations League victory an emotional dimension, as the former coach reunited with Zinédine Zidane, his iconic former No. 10. The two men embraced in the stadium corridor, exchanged kisses and shared a private exchange before celebrating the moment together.

Jacquet, 84, had come to watch Zidane lead France in his second Nations League match at home. The team won, and the new coach greeted his predecessor with an unmistakable smile before heading on to his post-match duties. The words Jacquet whispered to him could not be heard, but Zidane’s reaction showed how much the meeting meant.

The reunion also brought together several members of France’s 1998 World Cup-winning generation. Laurent Blanc congratulated Zidane, while Robert Pirès, Christian Karembeu and Vincent Candela also offered their former teammate warm embraces and congratulations. Zidane and Jacquet later posed for photographs in the corridor.

Jacquet then quietly returned inside the stadium. Zidane went on to speak with Bixente Lizarazu, another 1998 world champion who was working as a television consultant. The meeting linked France’s historic 1998 triumph with the beginning of Zidane’s tenure as national-team coach.