Zinedine Zidane’s two Man Utd demands, dream next job and when he can take over | Football | Sport

Former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane is once again being touted as a potential successor for Ruben Amorim at Manchester United. The Frenchman’s name frequently surfaces whenever there’s a hint of instability at Old Trafford, and with current boss Amorim under increasing pressure, it’s no surprise to see Zidane linked once more. Since departing Real Madrid at the conclusion of the 2021/22 season, Zidane has yet to take the reins at another club.

It’s rumoured that he was approached by the United States Soccer Federation following the 2022 World Cup, but reportedly turned down the offer. However, Zidane has hinted that his dream next job is not United – but the France national team role. Speaking at an Adidas event in May, he said: “I feel qualified for the French team, where I played and spent practically 12, 13, 14 years as a player. Of course, it’s a dream. I can’t wait. There’s a coach in charge, there’s a team, and you have to respect everything, and that’s what we do. I’ve always respected football and the people, so it’s not the right time.

“But when the time comes, it will be a great pleasure if the opportunity arises. I’ve put my career on hold for a while, but I fully feel like a coach.” Didier Deschamps currently manages the France national team, but revealed earlier this year that he will step down when his contract concludes following next year’s World Cup.

“In 2026 it will be over,” he told the French TV channel TF1. “In my head, it’s very clear. I’ve done my time, with the same desire and passion to maintain France at the highest level, but 2026 is [a] very good [time to stop].

“One has to be able to say stop, there’s a life after this. The most important [thing] is for France to stay at the top as they have been for many years.”

However, French football federation president Philippe Diallo refused to discuss a potential successor when questioned about Zidane. “I won’t get into that debate,” he told the French sports newspaper L’Equipe.

“Didier has a two-year contract and, out of respect for him, his staff and the players, the question of his succession does not arise today. I want Didier [Deschamps] to work in peace. We have important deadlines.”

Regarding Zidane, Diallo continued: “He is one of the monuments of French football and world football, he is the one who contributed to this first star on our jersey. I have a lot of respect and admiration for one of the greatest players in the history of football.

“I saw that he had very high-quality results with Real Madrid. He has already won the most beautiful of trophies, the Champions League, several times. So, he has also demonstrated the extent of his talent there.”

Zidane has previously expressed his thoughts on the Manchester United job. Speaking to L’Equipe in 2022, he said: “Would I want to go to Manchester? I understand English, but I’m not completely fluent in it.

“I know that there are coaches who go to clubs without speaking the language, but I work in a different way. Many elements come into play in order to win; it is a global context. I know what I need to win.”

His former team-mate Emmanuel Petit echoed these sentiments last year. “Honestly, I know a little bit, Zizou [Zidane], and he needs to get guarantees if he wants to sign over there at Manchester United,” he said.

“At the moment, the environment at Manchester United, for years, has not been good. The stability of the bench, the level of the players as well, the expectation of the club is not the same that it used to be.

“United is still a huge club, but not on the pitch anymore. And Zizou is very conscious and very careful about that, the quality of the players.

“Could he manage to overturn the situation over there? I think the only answer is yes. But at the moment, when you look at the team, I’m not convinced at all about the level of some players.

“So if I am Zizou, I think it will be very easy, actually, to answer this question [of joining United]. If I don’t speak English on top of it, that will be more problems in terms of communication in the dressing room.

“If he takes the job at Manchester United, that means he’s got solutions. At the moment, I’m not sure a lot of people have the solution to turn the situation at Manchester United.

“Does he want to leave the sunny days of Madrid? His life is in Madrid, he is dedicated to Madrid. I’m not sure that he speaks very good English as well. And communication is very important in the dressing room.”