We know that Zinedine Zidane’s “vacation” was longer than planned after he left Real Madrid in 2021 as one of the world’s very best managers.
For Zinedine Zidane, it was perfect with a year’s holiday! – A holiday that is approaching four years.
The legendary midfielder won three Champions League titles with Real during his first spell as manager, lifting the La Liga trophy in 2017 and 2020.
He has been linked with a number of vacancies since then, with reports last year claiming that he was the favourite to replace Erik ten Hag if sacked as Manchester United manager. The Red Devils decided instead to appoint Ruben Amorim from Sporting Lisbon.
But now Zidane is reportedly closer than ever to landing his dream job.
Le Parisien reports that Zidane is once again the favourite to take over from Didier Deschamps as manager of the French men’s national team.
L’Equipe follows up on the matter and writes that Didier Deschamps will announce at a press conference later today that he will leave his position after the World Cup tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico in the summer of 2026.
Deschamps has been in charge of the national team since 2012 and is one of the most successful managers in the country’s history, becoming only the third to win a World Cup both as a player and as a coach.
Zidane would only be willing to return to management if two jobs were offered to him – either Real Madrid or France.
It was reported that Zidane “does not see himself managing any team other than the team of his life [Real] and at the national team level”, with only one “groundbreaking” project potentially causing him to reconsider his stance amid previous rejections of Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Juventus.