Zidane seems to be keen to get back into the game and there's plenty of options for him
A movie premiere is not the most likely place for the starting pistol to be fired on an almighty managerial tug of war. But at the recent maiden screening of a documentary charting the career of former Italy and Juventus boss Marcello Lippi, Zinedine Zidane's seven words to a reporter did exactly that.
"I'd certainly like to return to the bench," the legendary Frenchman said – and it appears that several top clubs across the continent were listening. That Zidane was speaking within the context of that prospective job coming in Italy didn't matter. In the hours and days that followed his comment, news feeds were flooded with stories linking Zidane with a string of the continent's best-known sides.
This is not the first time his name has been mentioned for the biggest jobs, of course. Since leaving his beloved Real Madrid for a second time in 2021, Zidane has had the pick of a whole host of different roles. However, up to now, he has proved to be an extremely discerning customer, turning down some truly massive opportunities after the projects failed to enthuse him.
GettyBiding his time
For instance, Zidane has reportedly been considered by Manchester United twice previously, once back in 2019 when Jose Mourinho's time was coming to an end, and then more recently in 2021 before Ralf Rangnick was chosen as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's interim replacement.
Juventus were also sniffing around when Andrea Pirlo departed, eventually opting to rehire Max Allegri, who has endured a topsy-turvy time in Turin ever since. Paris Saint-Germain have been among his other suitors, with links most prominent when it became evident that Christophe Galtier would be sacked towards the end of last season. Again though, Zidane kept his distance and Luis Enrique instead landed French football's top job.
It's not just been club roles either. The USMNT are understood to have sounded out the 51 year old when Gregg Berhalter spent a period under investigation. Zidane showed little willing to head Stateside, however, even with the promise of leading the Stars and Stripes at a home World Cup in 2026.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe France dream is dead – for now
In fact, despite all of the rumours, there's only been one job that Zidane has ever felt close to taking since his Madrid exit. When France lost in the 2022 World Cup final, it was unclear whether Didier Deschamps would stay on as Les Bleus boss. This led to Zidane's name being floated for the job, amid criticism of Deschamps' perceived negative team selection.
Then, with the dust still settling on France's dramatic defeat in Qatar, it was confirmed that the manager had extended his deal until 2026. This was obviously disappointing from Zidane's perspective, but the issue soon snowballed into a full-on national crisis thanks to then-French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet.
Speaking to RMC Sport at the time, the 82 year old said: "Did Zidane tried to reach me? Certainly not, I wouldn't even have picked up the phone anyway." He added: "I've never met him, we never considered parting with Didier."
His dismissive comments attracted widespread outroar, with Kylian Mbappe telling him not to "disrespect the legend like that", while French sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera also chimed in. Le Graet attempted to wriggle off the hook with an apology, but it was no use. A few months earlier, his position had been weakened by an expose in a French outlet So Foot, which included accusations of sexual harassment and inappropriate workplace behaviour at FFF, and the president would tender his resignation in February 2023.
Criticism of Zidane was the straw that broke the camel's back, which is telling for just how highly the 1998 World Cup hero is regarded in France. However, with Deschamps still in charge, his dream of managing his national team anytime soon is dead. The situation may change if Les Bleus implode at the Euros this summer, but Zidane's recent comments suggest he is tired of waiting and would be amenable to re-entering the club game if the right opportunity emerged.
Getty ImagesThe perfect man for Real Madrid
And it's little surprise that so many top sides would be willing to offer him that route back to the dugout. That Zidane remains so highly regarded after an unusually long break is testament of the quite incredible job he did during his first spell at the Santiago Bernabeu. Airlifted in from the club's second team to pick up the wreckage left by Rafa Benitez's ill-fated spell in charge, just a few months later he had led Los Blancos to the Champions League final, where they edged out bitter rivals Atletico Madrid at San Siro.
And the trophies just kept on coming thereafter. The following campaign, Madrid won La Liga, the Club World Cup and the Champions League, with Zidane adding a ridiculous, third-straight European Cup to his collection during the 2017-18 campaign. He left shortly after, insisting the club needed a "change" to push on, but he wasn't away for long.
Following failed stints from Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari, Madrid put up the Zidane beacon again in March 2019. This time he was tasked with essentially rebuilding the team following Cristiano Ronaldo's departure and La Liga glory was savoured in his first full season in charge. That title tilt was built on a measly defence and the goals of Karim Benzema, but the 2020-21 campaign was less magical, as Los Blancos failed to lift a single piece of silverware.
Despite still being under contract until 2022, Zidane left at the end of that season, somewhat acrimoniously. An open letter to fans read: "Right now, things are different… I’m leaving because I feel the club no longer has the faith in me I need, nor the support to build something in the medium or long term."
(C)Getty imagesBayern Munich are interested
Zidane wasn't the first coach to be ground down by life under the ever-demanding Florentino Perez, but if he is truly refreshed and ready to go again, he will have no shortage of offers this summer. One club understood to be interested is Bayern Munich, following the news that Thomas Tuchel will be departing at the end of the season.
News of the ex-Chelsea boss' exit wasn't surprising. Die Roten currently trail Xabi Alonso's exceptional Bayer Leverkusen by eight points in the Bundesliga title race while their Champions League prospects hang by a thread following a disappointing last-16 first-leg defeat to Lazio.
In typically Bayern fashion – who have made a habit of hoovering up talent from their German rivals – Alonso is thought to be their No.1 choice. But with Liverpool pushing hard to snap up the Spaniard too, Zidane has emerged as another option.
His hire would make a good deal of sense. Bayern's dressing room dynamics are a mess right now, with pro and anti Tuchel factions apparently emerging. This echos a wider pattern of intersquad discord over the past few seasons, with Leroy Sane and Sadio Mane even coming to blows after a Champions League game last season, raising concerns that the infamous FC Hollywood days are returning to Bavaria.
Zidane showed during his time at Madrid that one of his key assets is handling egos. Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and countess other big-name players only have good things to say about the Frenchman, and when they were at the peak of their powers his side's exuded an aura.
It was this mentality – created by Zidane – that carried them to the majority of their success. He's not a 'philosophy coach' like Pep Guardiola or Roberto De Zerbi. He's tactically flexible, with his greatest strength instead being ensuring the psychological dynamics of the team are elite.
After experiencing issues with two such blue-sky thinking managers – Tuchel and Julian Nagelsmann – in the recent past, turning to Zidane would seem to make sense for Bayern.
