"I Won't Change Anything": Zidane to Stay With Adidas Despite France Nike Deal
- Zidane's Unwavering Adidas Loyalty: Zinedine Zidane will continue his 30-year personal sponsorship with Adidas despite becoming manager of the French national team, which is contractually outfitted by Nike, stating "I won't change anything".
- Official Nike Attire for FFF Duties: When performing official duties with the French national team, Zidane will adhere to the French Football Federation's obligations by wearing Nike-branded tracksuits, polo shirts, and sideline gear during camps, training, and matches.
- Footwear Autonomy on the Pitch: An essential exception to the Nike mandate is footwear, allowing Zidane and other national team staff the autonomy to freely wear Adidas boots and sneakers on the pitch and touchline.
Zinedine Zidane will make his debut as France manager on Friday against Turkey. Taking over Les Bleus on a four-year contract, the French legend steps into a federation outfitted by Nike, but will do so only partly.
Zidane has been sponsored by Adidas for exactly 30 years. Even after the end of his career, he has been one of the Three Stripes' top ambassadors, even getting his own signature boots. This raised questions about how Adidas x Zidane will continue as France's manager.
Nike France Gear on Duty, Footwear Freedom
Addressing the commercial dynamic, Zidane confirmed that his legendary personal alliance with Adidas remains completely unaffected. Having represented the German brand continuously since 1996, Zidane stated clearly: "I won't change anything." The German manufacturer even celebrated his appointment with their "Comme au premier jour" campaign, recreating his iconic 1998 portrait to celebrate 30 unbroken years together.
When carrying out his official duties with the French national team, Zidane will naturally adhere to the French Football Federation's contractual obligations. The FFF signed an extension with Nike running through 2034, valued at roughly €100 million per season. Consequently, Zidane will wear Nike-branded tracksuits, polo shirts, and sideline gear during international camps, official training sessions, and matches.
There is, however, an essential exception: footwear. National team players and staff are granted autonomy over their technical equipment, allowing Zidane to freely wear Adidas boots and sneakers on the pitch and touchline. Outside of official FFF engagements, Zidane retains complete freedom to continue his commercial work and public appearances representing the Three Stripes.
FFF President Philippe Diallo confirmed that the dual-brand situation was discussed in advance and resolved seamlessly.