Fabien Barthez Joins France Team as Goalkeeper Coach
Listen to the story
Fabien Barthez has been named the new goalkeeper coach for the France national football team.
The announcement was made by the French Football Federation (FFF), the organisation that manages football in France.
Barthez, a former France international, was known as one of the best goalkeepers of his generation. He is now taking on a coaching role, focusing on training the team's goalkeepers.
The move is part of the new coaching staff that has been built around Zinedine Zidane, who recently became the head coach of the France national team.
Zidane, himself a legendary player for France, is now putting together his own team of assistants and specialist coaches as he begins his role.
Barthez's appointment shows that Zidane wants experienced former players around him. Both men achieved major success with France during their playing careers.
As goalkeeper coach, Barthez will work directly with the goalkeepers selected for the national team. His job will include improving their technique and preparing them for matches.
The FFF has not given further details about the rest of Zidane's staff, but more information is expected to be released soon.
This news has been welcomed by many French football fans, who remember Barthez fondly from his playing days.
The appointment marks another step in the transition to Zidane's era as head coach of the France national team.
Vocabulary10 words
- goalkeeper coach
- a coach who trains the goalkeeper only
- French Football Federation
- the official group that organises football in France
- coaching staff
- the group of coaches who help a team
- head coach
- the main person in charge of a team
- appointment
- the act of giving someone a job
- national team
- the team that represents a whole country
- generation
- a group of people who lived at the same time
- technique
- the special skill used to do something well
- transition
- the process of changing from one thing to another
- legendary
- very famous and admired for a long time
Quiz
Answer key
1. Goalkeeper coach 2. The French Football Federation 3. Training the national team's goalkeepers
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Fabien Barthez has been named the new _____ for the France national football team.
The announcement was made by the French Football _____ (FFF).
Barthez, a former France international, was known as one of the best _____ of his generation.
The move is part of the new coaching staff built around Zinedine _____.
Zidane recently became the _____ of the France national team.
Zidane is now putting together his own team of _____ and specialist coaches.
Barthez's _____ shows that Zidane wants experienced former players around him.
As goalkeeper coach, Barthez will work directly with the _____ selected for the national team.
His job will include improving their _____ and preparing them for matches.
The appointment marks another step in the _____ to Zidane's era.