Former Real Madrid Star Zinedine Zidane has finally Responded to the media after being linked as being next Manchester United manager if Erig Ten Hag is sacked after the international break
As pressure on Erik ten Hag grows, Zinedine Zidane has earlier said why he would not want to accept the Manchester United job.Ten Hag, 54, is under great pressure following two losses from three Premier League games, including a notable 3-0 loss by Liverpool. Since his departure from Real Madrid in 2021, 52-year-old Zidane has not worked; in the years since he has been connected to the Old Trafford hotseat on multiple times.
But any hopes Sir Jim Ratcliffe has of luring him the Frenchman to Manchester will probably depend on whether he is changed his mind about managing in England. Zidane was connected to Old Trafford back in 2021 after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer left, but the 1998 World Cup winner turned down.
Not too long after, Zidane told L’Equipe he the language barrier would prevent him from working in the UK. “I understand English, but I do not totally master it,” he remarked. “I work differently even though I know some coaches visit clubs without speaking the language.
“Many aspects are involved in winning; it is a worldwide perspective. I know what I have to do to win.
It is unknown whether Zidane’s English has improved since then; if it hasn’t, Ratcliffe and colleagues might as well scrub him off their wish list. That said, according to French sources, Zidane expressed interest in the United job earlier this year—though this was before Ten Hag signed his contract.
Once Chelsea’s manager, Thomas Tuchel also spoke with United following his exit from Bayern Munich at the end of last season. Although a contract was almost finalized, United finally chose to stick with Ten Hag under speculations that Tuchel was dissatisfied with the United’s transfer policy.Zinedine Zidane has previously explained why he would be reluctant to accept the Manchester United managerial role, despite being linked to the position multiple times since leaving Real Madrid in 2021. As pressure mounts on Erik ten Hag after a disappointing start to the Premier League season, speculation about Zidane’s potential interest resurfaces.
Zidane, who has not managed any team since his departure from Real Madrid, had earlier turned down the opportunity to manage Manchester United following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s exit in 2021. In an interview with L’Equipe, Zidane cited the language barrier as a significant reason for his reluctance to work in England, stating, “I understand English, but I do not totally master it… Many aspects are involved in winning; it is a worldwide perspective. I know what I have to do to win.”
It’s unclear if Zidane’s proficiency in English has improved since then. However, reports from French sources earlier this year suggested that Zidane might have shown interest in the United job before Erik ten Hag was appointed. This indicates that while Zidane’s stance may have softened, his hesitation about the language and other cultural factors still presents a challenge for Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Manchester United.
Meanwhile, former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel was also linked with the United job after leaving Bayern Munich last season. Negotiations were reportedly close to completion, but United ultimately decided to continue with Ten Hag, possibly due to Tuchel’s concerns over the club’s transfer policy.
As the pressure on Ten Hag continues to build following a string of poor performances, it remains uncertain whether Manchester United would revisit Zidane or Tuchel as potential managerial candidates or if they will stick with the current regime.
