Right after Erik Ten Hag was dismissed as manager of Manchester United, Zinedine Zidane, the former Real Madrid coach, has emerged as the likely candidate to become the new manager of Manchester United.
Former Manchester United forward Louis Saha has proposed Zinedine Zidane as a potential candidate to help the team navigate its current challenges. While Saha respects the efforts of current manager Erik ten Hag, he believes Zidane’s high standards could provide the necessary morale boost for the team. This suggestion follows a season where Ten Hag led United to an FA Cup victory but also saw the team finish ninth in the Premier League, their lowest ever, placing Ten Hag’s career at a critical juncture for co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Saha stated, “Zidane is the manager I would dream to have at Manchester United for obvious reasons. He would do well, he’s motivated to return to football, and I think it will be difficult for him to stay out for another year.” These comments were made in an interview with OLBG, as reported by the Mirror.
Saha noted that United’s current strategy differs significantly from Zidane’s approach. He stressed that success requires ten players fully committed to bringing the team back to the top, but currently, too many United players are underperforming and lack consistency.
Despite his support for Ten Hag’s efforts at Old Trafford, Saha believes Zidane would bring a “level above.” Since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, where he won two La Liga titles and three consecutive Champions League trophies, Zidane has not managed another club. Saha, who played alongside Zidane when France finished second at the 2006 World Cup and won the Champions League, described him as a “very hard worker” who “never asked his management for anything.”
Despite recent boardroom changes to address longstanding issues, Manchester United’s recruitment strategy remains a significant concern. Discussions continue about the large contracts given to veterans like Casemiro and Raphael Varane, while Brazilian winger Antony, bought from Ajax for £80 million, has yet to justify his price tag.
However, Saha believes that Zidane’s ability to inspire a change in mentality, as he demonstrated at Real Madrid, could lead to a transformation at United. Nonetheless, he acknowledged that Zidane would face challenges managing a less-than-ideal transfer strategy if he were to take over at Old Trafford.
Despite these challenges, Saha maintains that Zidane’s insistence on his players giving their utmost effort could enhance their chances of success.Former Manchester United forward Louis Saha has proposed Zinedine Zidane as a potential candidate to address the team’s current struggles, despite recognizing the efforts of current manager Erik ten Hag. Saha believes that Zidane’s high standards and motivational abilities could provide the necessary boost for Manchester United, which recently finished ninth in the Premier League—their lowest ever—despite winning the FA Cup.
Saha expressed his admiration for Zidane, noting his impressive track record with Real Madrid, where he won two La Liga titles and three consecutive Champions League trophies. In an interview with OLBG, Saha described Zidane as a hard worker who could inspire a shift in mentality among United players, many of whom are currently underperforming and inconsistent.
Saha acknowledged that United’s current strategy under Ten Hag differs significantly from Zidane’s approach but believes Zidane’s return to football would be beneficial. Despite recent changes in United’s boardroom aimed at addressing longstanding issues, recruitment strategies remain a concern, particularly with high-profile players like Casemiro, Raphael Varane, and the underperforming £80 million signing Antony.
Saha remains confident that Zidane’s demand for maximum effort from his players could improve United’s performance, although he admitted that Zidane would face challenges with the club’s current transfer strategy.
