Zinedine Zidane names the three things that must happen at Man Utd before he takes job
After an underwhelming second season in charge of Man United, Erik ten Hag is under pressure.
The future of the Dutch coach is uncertain, with the club’s new minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe unconvinced that he is the man to return United to the top of English football.
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That uncertainty has resulted in several top managers being linked with the Old Trafford hot set, including Zinedine Zidane.
The legendary Frenchman has been out of the job since he left Real Madrid in 2021.
Zidane enjoyed two spells in charge of the club he played for, winning the Champions League three years in a row between 2016 and 2018 before returning for a second stint in 2019 and guiding Los Blancos to the league title.
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Zidane was back in Madrid this weekend for a legends match against Porto, ahead of which he spoke about why he resigned from his position almost three years ago.
“I know football and I know the demands of a club like Madrid,” Zidane said, via Marca.
“I know that when you don’t win you have to leave, but here a very important thing has been forgotten – everything that I have built on a day-to-day basis has been forgotten, what I have contributed in the relationship with the players, with the one hundred and fifty people who work with and around the team.”
The former France star highlighted three things that must be present for a club to be consistently great, suggesting he wouldn’t take the United job unless those things were assured.
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“I am a born winner and I was here to win trophies, but beyond this are human beings, emotions, life.
“And I have the feeling that these things have not been valued, that it has not been understood that this is also how the dynamics of a great club are maintained.
“In some ways, I have even been reproached for it. Today the life of a coach on the bench of a great club is two seasons, not much more.
For it to last longer, human relationships are essential, they are more important than money, more important than fame, more important than everything.”
Zinedine Zidane has removed key obstacle that stopped him taking Man Utd job before Erik ten Hag
Zinedine Zidane has been removing a key stumbling block in replacing Erik ten Hag as Manchester United manager, one of his former team-mates has claimed.
The Frenchman has been linked with a move to Old Trafford if United part company with Ten Hag, who is enduring a challenging second season at the club.
United finished bottom of their Champions League group, and a defeat to Liverpool on Sunday would no doubt pile more pressure on the Dutchman.
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The Sun reported on Wednesday that prospective minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe met with former Chelsea boss Graham Potter, who is one of the favourites to take over from Ten Hag if the British billionaire decides to relieve him of his duties.
But links to Zidane are yet to vanish, and his appointment at Old Trafford would represent a return to football management after almost three years out.
Speaking to L’Equipe in 2022, Zidane stated there were a number of barriers blocking him from becoming a manager in English football.
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He said: “I might not be able to go everywhere. The language, for example. Certain conditions make things more difficult.
“When people say to me, ‘Do you want to go to Manchester?’ I understand English but I don’t fully master it. I know that there are coaches who go to clubs without speaking the language, but I work differently.”
However, former France team-mate Emmanuel Petit has claimed that Zidane has in fact been learning English this year.
He told DAZN Bet: “For the last few months, Zizou has been taking English lessons. I don’t know if he wants to come and manage in England, but this is an open door.
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“For me, him starting to learn English means he has changed his mind about managing a team in England.
“He hasn’t managed anyone for a few years now and you need to remain sharp as a manager because football moves and changes so quickly.
“Admittedly, there are not many top jobs available in England for him either right now. However, the fact he is learning English means that English jobs are now something he will consider.”
Will we see Zidane in English football any time soon? Watch this space.
Zinedine Zidane has already made feelings clear on Man Utd job with French legend ‘favourite’ to replace Erik ten Hag
Zinedine Zidane has already revealed whether he would be interested in taking the Manchester United job.
Pressure increased on Erik ten Hag at the weekend after United were humbled 3-0 by in-form Bournemouth at Old Trafford.
The defeat, which pundit and former United midfielder Owen Hargreaves labelled as “embarrassing”, means United are 10 points behind top of the league Liverpool with 16 games played.
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Back in September, it was reported that former Real Madrid boss Zidane would be the favourite to the reins at Old Trafford if Ten Hag was dismissed.
A World Cup, European Championship and Champions League winner in his playing days, Zidane also claimed three Champions League trophies in succession during his time as Real Madrid manager.
However, the Frenchman has been out of work since bringing a second stint as Real Madrid boss to a close in the summer of 2021.
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And he revealed in 2022 that while he is looking to make a return to the dugout, personal ambition rules him out of the running for many roles.
Moreover, the language barrier has prevented him from ever becoming a contender for prominent positions in the Premier League, such as the United job.
Speaking to L’Equipe, Zidane said: “When I was a player, I could choose almost every club. As a coach, there aren’t 50 clubs I can go to. There are two or three possibilities.
“If I go back to a club, it’s to win. I say this in all modesty. That’s why I can’t go anywhere.
“For other reasons, too, I might not be able to go everywhere. Which ones? The language, for example. Certain conditions make things more difficult.
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“When people say to me: ‘Do you want to go to Manchester?’ I understand English but I don’t fully master it.
“I know that there are coaches who go to clubs without speaking the language, but I work differently. To win, many elements come into play. It’s a global context. Me, I know what I need to win.
Zinedine Zidane’s interest in becoming Manchester United manager could be revived following a change of heart.
Zidane has only ever managed Real Madrid, but he led Los Blancos to three Champions League titles across two spells in charge.
The French coach has been out of work since leaving Madrid in 2021, although he has been linked with several clubs since then.
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This week Zidane has been linked with taking the top job at Bayern Munich, following the announcement that Thomas Tuchel will leave the club at the end of the season.
On Wednesday Bayern and Tuchel confirmed that they have agreed to mutually part ways after what looks set to be a disappointing season.
The perennial Bundesliga champions are eight points behind table toppers Bayer Leverkusen with just 12 games left to play, and face an uphill task to qualify for the Champions League quarter-finals.
Zidane has previously refused to manage teams in countries where he doesn’t speak the language, but according to German publication Bild [via Sport.de], that is no longer the case.
The World Cup winner is reportedly monitoring events in Munich with interest, and despite not being able to speak German, the Bayern job appeals to him.
According to the report, Zidane views Bayern as an institution not dissimilar to Madrid, a club with an illustrious history and great working conditions.
Zidane’s new-found openness to overcoming language barriers could open the door to him one day managing Manchester United.
The 51-year-old was linked with the Old Trafford hot seat before Erik ten Hag was appointed, but he ruled himself out of the running.
While the Bayern Munich job is arguably much more attractive than United, Zidane’s change is stance means he could one day be the man to lead United to glory.
Zinedine Zidane has reportedly already agreed on a return to management under one condition amid Manchester United rumours.
This week, Zidane has been linked with replacing Erik ten Hag at United after yet another poor start to the season.
United fans made their feelings clear after Wednesday night’s 3-0 defeat against Newcastle United in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
Since then, odds have been slashed on Ten Hag being sacked, with Zidane the bookies’ favourite to take over as United boss.
However, it was reported last month that the former Real Madrid player and manager has agreed to return to management on one condition.
According to French news outlet France Blue Provence, Zidane has agreed to return to his former club Olympique de Marseille to become their new manager.
The report stated that one condition must be met for Zidane to return.
It has been said that Zidane has agreed to become Marseille’s new manager if the club’s sale to Saudi Arabia goes ahead.
The Middle East powerhouse has been linked with buying the French side and reportedly dreams of ‘making the club the Newcastle of France’.
It has also been claimed that the Saudis have granted Zidane’s request for a £260 million transfer budget.
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This summer, clubs in Saudi Arabia have been splashing the cash in a bid to lure some of Europe’s biggest names to the Saudi Professional League.
After Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in January, the likes of Karim Benzema, Roberto Firmino, Neymar, Ruben Neves and Riyad Mahrez all ditched European football for the Middle East during the summer transfer window.
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