French football legend Zinedine Zidane looks set to finally return to the sport as he has begun talks about his next job.
It has been almost five years since Zidane left Real Madrid for the second time in his managerial career, on the grounds that the club “no longer had confidence” in him. He won three consecutive Champions League titles and one La Liga title in his first spell as manager between 2016 and May 2018, before returning to win his second La Liga title in 2020.
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Due to the immense success of his former club, Zidane has been linked to several jobs since leaving Real Madrid, including Liverpool, Manchester United, and the French national team.
So far, Zidane is yet to return to the sidelines, but it looks like he could finally accept his next job as reports claim he has begun talks to take over a big team this year.
Although a number of clubs have desperately tried to convince Zidane to become their next manager, it has long been expected that his next role would be to manage France.
Many thought that he would take over the role after France’s second-place finish in the 2022 World Cup or, failing that, after the 2024 European Championship, but Didier Deschamps “refuses to quit”
However, it seems that this may finally be about to change, with a report by French media outlet L’Equipe claiming that the French Football Federation has begun preparing for the post-Deschamps era and initiated talks with Zidane.
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It is claimed that talks are still at a very early and confidential stage, but it is clear that Zidane is the federation’s first target, and that the move signals their hope of bringing in a high-profile figure to replace Deschamps.
As expected, Zidane is said to be eager to take the job, with his main requirement being the ability to restructure the technical staff and bring in his own assistants to implement his unique football philosophy.
Among those expected to join Zidane in the French national team is David Bettoni, who served as Zidane’s assistant during both of his spells as Real Madrid boss. In a statement in October, Zidane confirmed his interest in returning to the sidelines in the near future, identifying the France job as his dream choice.
“For safety’s sake, I will return to work as head coach, that is my plan,” Zidane promised during the Festival Dello Sport.
“My wish is to become France’s country sales manager one day… Let’s see.”
