He was the head coach of the France national team from 1976 to 1984, with whom he won the UEFA Euro 1984 on home soil, also reaching the semi-finals of the 1982 FIFA World Cup.

[1] He was born to a Spanish-born father and a French mother in northern France, and grew up in Normandy, where he started playing football.

In 1984, he won the European Championship on home soil, beating Spain 2–0 in the final in Paris; this was France's first major international title.

Hidalgo is also regarded as the architect of the French "carré magique" (magic square), which was nickname given to the creative and talented four-man midfield of the France national side during the 80s, which was made up of Michel Platini, Alain Giresse, Jean Tigana, and Luis Fernandez.

[3][4][5][6][7] After his victory, he passed the reins over to his assistant Henri Michel and got a job as the National Technical Director, where he remained until 1986, afterwards choosing a managerial position at Marseille.