Zinedine Zidane will wear the captain's armband when he returns to international duty for France in a friendly against Ivory Coast in Montpellier on August 17.
"Zidane is the captain," France coach Raymond Domenech told French television TF1 on Sunday.
Juventus midfielder Patrick Vieira has captained France since Domenech took over as coach from Jacques Santini last year following France's exit in the quarter-finals of the Euro 2004.
France lost to eventual winners Greece, prompting Zidane and players like Bixente Lizarazu, Lilian Thuram and Claude Makelele to retire from international duty.
Zidane, however, announced his international comeback on Wednesday and is determined to help Les Bleus qualify for the 2006 World Cup. Midfielder Makelele has also decided to resume playing for the national side.
"The essential thing is that the players wanted to come back," said a delighted Domenech. "Last year, they were worn out and fed up.
"I cannot understand that some people do not believe the blue shirt can miss a high-level player," he added, referring to Zidane's absence.
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