Fabien Barthez Joins Zidane's Coaching Team for France
Listen to the story
Fabien Barthez, who won the World Cup with France in 1998, has been named goalkeeper coach for the French national team. He will join the coaching staff of Zinédine Zidane, the new head coach of Les Bleus.
Barthez was the starting goalkeeper for France during the 1998 World Cup victory. Zidane was one of the star players on that same team. Now, more than 25 years later, the two former teammates will work together again, this time from the coaching bench instead of the pitch.
As goalkeeper coach, Barthez will be responsible for training France's goalkeepers and helping them prepare for matches. This is a specialised role that focuses only on the players who defend the goal.
Another member of Zidane's new staff is Farid Tabet. Before joining the national team, Tabet was the coach of Le Cannet, a French football club. Details about his exact role in Zidane's staff have not been fully confirmed.
Zidane recently became the head coach of the French national team. Building his own coaching staff is one of his first big decisions in the job. Choosing former teammates like Barthez shows that Zidane wants experienced people, and people he trusts, around him.
Fans and football experts have reacted with interest to the news, as Barthez is remembered as one of the best goalkeepers in French football history. His return to the national team, in a new role, connects the current France setup to its most successful era.
Vocabulary5 words
- coach
- a person who trains and teaches sports players
- staff
- a group of people who work for the same leader
- coaching staff
- the group of coaches who help the main coach
- head coach
- the main person in charge of a sports team
- pitch
- the field where football is played
Quiz
Answer key
1. Goalkeeper coach for the France national team 2. They played together in the 1998 World Cup win 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Fabien Barthez, who won the World Cup with France in 1998, has been named goalkeeper _____ for the French national team. He will join the coaching _____ of Zinédine Zidane, the new head coach of Les Bleus.
Barthez was the starting goalkeeper for France during the 1998 World Cup victory. Zidane was one of the star players on that same team. Now, more than 25 years later, the two former teammates will work together again, this time from the coaching bench instead of the _____.
As goalkeeper coach, Barthez will be responsible for training France's goalkeepers and helping them prepare for matches. This is a specialised _____ that focuses only on the players who defend the goal.
Another member of Zidane's new staff is Farid Tabet. Before joining the national team, Tabet was the coach of Le Cannet, a French football _____. Details about his exact role in Zidane's staff have not been fully confirmed.
Zidane recently became the _____ of the French national team. Building his own coaching staff is one of his first big decisions in the job. Choosing former teammates like Barthez shows that Zidane wants experienced people, and people he _____, around him.
Fans and football experts have reacted with interest to the news, as Barthez is remembered as one of the best goalkeepers in French football history. His return to the national team, in a new role, connects the current France setup to its most successful _____.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think Zidane chose Barthez, a former teammate, for his coaching staff?
- What qualities do you think make a good goalkeeper coach?
- How important do you think personal connections are when building a sports team's staff?
- Do you follow French football? What do you know about the 1998 World Cup team?