Zinedine Zidane has been linked with the Manchester United job as pressure mounts on Ruben Amorim but the Frenchman is the favourite to land the France job at the end of the season
Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane has been linked with the Manchester United job
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Zinedine Zidane is reportedly among the potential candidates to take over from Ruben Amorim at Manchester United if he is sacked following another disappointing result this weekend. The pressure on the Portuguese manager intensified on Saturday after a 3-1 loss to Brentford.
Two first-half goals from Igor Thiago left United reeling from a sluggish start. Benjamin Sesko scored his maiden goal for the club before Bruno Fernandes failed to convert a penalty that would have equalised the match with just 15 minutes remaining.
Mathias Jensen sealed the victory for Brentford, adding to Amorim's woes. Amorim's position at Old Trafford is again under scrutiny, as United languish in 14th place in the Premier League table with just seven points.
Reports suggest that Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola and Crystal Palace's Oliver Glasner are also on Ineos' shortlist, alongside Gareth Southgate, if they decide to part ways with Amorim. Zidane, who has been linked with a move to Manchester in the past, is claimed to be back in the frame.
The former Real Madrid midfielder has been without a job since 2021 and has been associated with almost every top club vacancy since his departure from Los Blancos. However, convincing the Ballon d'Or winner to move to England could prove a significant challenge for United.
The French national team position represents one of the most significant obstacles to a potential appointment to succeed Amorim. Didier Deschamps has held the reins since 2012, guiding Les Bleus to triumph in the 2018 World Cup, reaching the showpiece in 2022, and at Euro 2016.
Deschamps has announced that he will relinquish the position after next summer's World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. France have won both qualifying matches thus far and remain the overwhelming favourite to claim top spot in their group.
France's head coach Didier Deschamps reacts during the UEFA Nations League Group A2 football match between France and Italy at the Parc des Princes in Paris on September 6, 2024. (Photo by Franck FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)
Zinedine Zidane has been lined up to replace Didier Deschamps as France manager after the 2026 World Cup
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French publication L'Equipe has reportedly that Zidane is poised to assume control as France's new manager following the World Cup. The 53-year-old has previously acknowledged that he would relish the opportunity to take the position.
"There's a coach in charge, there's a team, and you have to respect everything, and that's what we do," he told Marca. "I've always respected football and the people, so it's not the right time.
"But when the time comes, it will be a great pleasure if the opportunity arises. I've put my career on hold for a while, but I fully feel like a coach." Whilst this means that Zidane remains available until the conclusion of the campaign, it's challenging to envisage both United and the former midfielder accepting a temporary arrangement for fewer than 12 months.
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