Zinédine Zidane says he hopes to return to management soon

Speaking to Téléfoot, Zinédine Zidane has said that he is hoping to return to management soon. The former France international has been out of work since leaving Real Madrid in 2021. 

Zidane may be keen to return to work, but it will certainly be on his own terms; he is not taking the first opportunity that comes his way. As reported by Le Parisien earlier in June, the former Real Madrid manager rejected the chance to replace Christophe Galtier at Paris Saint-Germain this summer. 

Téléfoot journalist Saber Desfarges announced that Qatar wanted him to manage there, whilst Saudi Arabia went so far as to make the Frenchman an offer. Juventus were also considering Zidane this summer, but he doesn’t want to take a managerial position currently. 

It has been thought that Zidane was waiting for the national team job, but those hopes were scuppered when Didier Deschamps signed a contract extension with Les Bleus following the World Cup. However, with the possible departure of Carlo Ancelotti from Real Madrid next summer, certain opportunities may arise. 

Questioned on his future, and specifically whether he would like to live and work once again in France, Zidane replied, “You can’t rule anything out. I know what I want and what I don’t want. If I’m having this break it’s because I should. I hope to tell myself that soon, I will be able to coach.”

GFFN | Luke Entwistle