Fabien Barthez will step onto the Clairefontaine pitch for his first France goalkeepers’ session before holding the qualification normally required for the role. The 1998 World Cup winner has begun the process, however, allowing him to work legally while completing an accelerated coaching course.
Quick facts
- Barthez has started an accelerated French Football Federation BEF course for former internationals.
- His first France session is expected on Monday or Tuesday at Clairefontaine.
- AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan is playing on Sunday, which could affect the training schedule.
- The final certification is set for April 5-7 at Clairefontaine.
- Completing the course will also grant Barthez UEFA A licence equivalence.
Barthez has been appointed as France’s new goalkeeping coach and is due to oversee the three selected keepers once the squad assembles. The exact day of the first session depends on the players’ fitness, with Maignan involved for Milan the previous day.
French sports regulations permit a coach in professional training to be paid for teaching or supervising sporting activity before qualification, provided key pre-placement requirements have been passed and the trainee works under an approved tutor. Barthez meets the first condition by having entered the programme.
His route is the BEF, the French Football Federation coaching certificate, delivered through a shortened pathway reserved for former international players. The opening course took place at Clairefontaine between September 7 and 10.
Eliaquim Mangala, former Haiti international Johny Placide and Aïssatou Tounkara were also enrolled. Barthez missed the final day through illness, despite plans for that session to be featured by the federation.
A monthly programme before April assessment
The former goalkeeper will return for monthly sessions and must also complete placements at a club, one of the 16 Espoirs development centres or the national technical centre. There will be no course session in March because of the international gathering.
A director from an Espoirs centre will act as his tutor throughout the programme. The final assessment is scheduled at Clairefontaine from April 5 to 7.
Passing the course will give Barthez the right to take a place on a bench and potentially coach abroad. It will also bring France into line with its own qualification rules.
The calendar leaves Barthez with a demanding season. France have three international windows ahead: around 15 days across September and October, one week in November, then 10 days in March, alongside compulsory in-person coursework.
It is the price of joining Zinédine Zidane’s staff. Zidane said on Friday that he and Barthez share the same view of what a goalkeeper should be.
