FRANCE
Zinedine Zidane to return to football management
Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Barcelona... the summer of 2024 has some of the world’s elite clubs looking for a new coach, and the former Real Madrid boss could be an option.
Zinedine Zidane concluded his second spell at Real Madrid in June 2021. Nearly three years later, the Frenchman has not returned to the sidelines, as the legend of Los Blancos – both as player and manager – has never wanted to be seen coaching a team just for the sake of it and is waiting for an opportunity that truly fulfills his goals. His aspiration was to coach the French national team, but Didier Deschamps renewed his contract, and that avenue is currently closed with the team arguably the best on the planet. However, everything could change after Euro 2024, which is being held this summer in Germany.
Could Zidane join Liverpool or Bayern?
The Frenchman attended the premiere of a documentary about Marcello Lippi yesterday, who was his coach at Juventus, and mentioned amid questions that he would like to return to coaching at some point.
“One day coaching in Italy? Why not?,” said the Frenchman. “Anything can happen, but for now, I’m doing something else. I’m sure I’ll return to the sidelines, I would like to coach again.”
Zidane is currently unemployed but this summer is unlike most with several huge coaching vacancies at some of Europe’s biggest clubs. Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Barcelona have all confirmed that a new person on the bench is needed at the end of this season – with Tuchel, Klopp and Xavi all saying an early goodbye – and there could even be an opportunity at Juventus. Two Spanish league titles and three consecutive Champions League wins add an attractive gloss to his CV, although some onlookers still have their doubts on his credentials.
As well as hinting at a return to management, Zidane also spoke about how Lippi believed in him at Juventus and also remembered Ancelotti.
“Marcello Lippi was the one who brought me to Juventus, the first to believe in me and let me play,” he recalled. “It wasn’t easy for him; I came from France, everything was different, but Lippi helped shape me into what I later became. As a player, I had great coaches like Lippi or Ancelotti, but everyone has to follow their own path.”