Across Europe, Africa and the Americas, this international window is bringing a striking change of faces to the touchlines. Former World Cup winners, Champions League-winning coaches and club icons are stepping into national-team work for the first time, with Rotterdam, Istanbul and Rome among the early stops on a busy debut schedule.
The news from the club
The most symbolic appointment comes with Thursday’s Nations League meeting between the Netherlands and Germany. Xavi Hernández will take charge of the Dutch side for the first time, beginning an international role after a career that included being a key figure in Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona and winning the 2010 World Cup with Spain. He also previously managed Barcelona.
Germany arrive under Jürgen Klopp, whose move from club football to the national bench places him immediately opposite another major name of the modern game. Klopp became a Liverpool great during a spell that brought the Champions League and Premier League, while his meetings with Guardiola defined one of the era’s most prominent coaching rivalries.
France have also selected a figure with an exceptional playing and managerial record. Zinedine Zidane succeeds Didier Deschamps and begins his tenure on Friday away to Turkey. Zidane won both the World Cup and European Championship as a France player, then led Real Madrid to three consecutive Champions League titles as coach.
Mark van Bommel starts his Belgium reign in Italy. The former Barcelona midfielder joins a growing group of celebrated former players receiving their first opportunity in senior international management during these FIFA dates.
A window of first matches
Beyond the European fixtures, several other nations are beginning new chapters.
- Rafa Márquez takes over Mexico from Javier Aguirre and will make his debut against Colombia in Monday’s friendly.
- Diego Forlán has been named Uruguay’s interim coach following Marcelo Bielsa’s departure. His first match comes against Robert Moreno’s South Korea on Monday.
- Marcelo Gallardo begins as Ecuador coach in a friendly against Japan on 1 October.
- Patrick Vieira will lead Senegal for the first time on Friday, when Mozambique visit in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying.
For each of them, the window offers a first passage from celebrated personal history into the different demands of international management: shorter preparation time, a travelling squad and immediate competitive fixtures. The opening results may matter, but this week is chiefly about the first steps of a new generation of national-team coaches.
