From star to France coach, Michel Platini preceded Zinédine Zidane | OneFootball

With Zinédine Zidane due to be confirmed as France coach on Tuesday, only one modern icon has previously made the same leap from pitch to dugout, Michel Platini. According to Le Progres, the Euro 1984 winner led Les Bleus from 1988 to 1992 and was the youngest incumbent at 33.

He was appointed on one November 1988 to replace Henri Michel after a troubled start to the 1990 World Cup qualifiers. Platini's first match brought a 3-2 defeat in Yugoslavia and France failed to reach Italia 90. That disappointment followed fourth place in 1982 then third in 1986.

Despite the setback, the Joeuf-born great stayed on and put together a 19-match unbeaten run, driven by the Papin and Cantona partnership. France were unbeaten in Euro 1992 qualifying but went out in the group stage.

On two July 1992 he resigned, saying simply that he was stopping, the same day France were named hosts of the 1998 World Cup. It remains his only coaching job.

Guy Lacombe, who oversaw Zidane's coaching formation, has said Platini moved straight into the role and that his arrival was effectively a power play to unseat Henri Michel. He argued Platini lacked the day-to-day coaching know-how that Yazid, Zidane's nickname, has, and added Zidane would be better equipped. Zidane will become the third member of the 1998 world champions to manage France after Laurent Blanc and Didier Deschamps.

Source: Le Progres