Zinedine Zidane’s move to Manchester United has long been rumored, but it looks like the Frenchman will not end up at Old Trafford after all due to another job currently on offer.
Zinedine Zidane to return as manager (Image: Getty Images)
Zinedine Zidane is set to be appointed as the new manager of the France national team, and his appointment appears to be drawing near. The former Real Madrid and Juventus star has been out of work since leaving the Bernabéu for the second time in 2021.
He is regularly rumored to take the reins of Manchester United, while the French national team has long admired him.
And it looks like Zidane could finally return to the dugout over the next few months. According to Le Parisien newspaper, the 53-year-old has reached a verbal agreement with the nationals to take over from manager Didier Deschamps after this summer’s World Cup.
French Football Federation (FFF) president Philippe Diallo has given an update on the search for a new manager, hinting that an announcement could be made soon. “Yes, I know his name,” he said in an interview with newspaper Le Figaro.
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Diallo added: “This French soccer team is a team of French people, so we need to tick a lot of boxes and have a profile that can qualify us for support from the French people.”
The FFF chief also admitted that there were “less than five applications” and that all of those interested in the role were French nationals. France will face Norway, Senegal and the winner of the inter-confederation play-off at this summer’s World Cup.
Zidane previously hinted that he was close to returning as manager earlier this season. He said, “It’s going to happen soon. Very soon.”
Zidane is set to replace Didier Deschamps after the World Cup (Image: Getty Images)
Zidane said, “I want to be the head coach of the French national team someday. I will definitely return to coaching.”
One of Zidane’s former team-mates, Nicolas Anelka, has previously given his opinion on Zidane taking charge of the France national team, suggesting he would be a great appointment.
“I don’t know if it’s official or not, but I think it’s going to be Zidane. Everyone is saying it’s him, but he’s the best choice. He proved it at Real Madrid. He was a good coach. He will be a good coach for the French players,” he said.
Zidane is set to return as manager in the coming months, but United still have a decision to make about the man’s succession in the Old Trafford dugout. Michael Carrick was appointed as Ruben Amorim’s replacement earlier this season and has enjoyed an impressive run of seven wins from 10 Premier League games, leaving the Red Devils in third place heading into the final international break of the campaign.
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