Zinedine Zidane has been linked with the Manchester United position for some time, and he has already expressed his main problem working in England
Zinedine Zidane during the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco on May 25, 2025 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco.
Zinedine Zidane has already dropped a major hint regarding the Manchester United job
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Zinedine Zidane previously hinted he would have to be fluent in English before he would consider taking the Manchester United job. The iconic Frenchman has long been linked with the managerial position at Old Trafford.
Those links have resurfaced once more with Ruben Amorim's position looking shaky once again after United's 3-1 defeat to Brentford at the weekend. The Portuguese boss has lost 17 matches out of 33 he's managed in the Premier League and is yet to win back-to-back games with the club.
As fifth-placed Sunderland come calling on Saturday, ex-Red Devils star Gary Neville believes that the suffering manager may get the boot if the newly promoted side takes a victory back to the Stadium of Light. While Amorim is believe to retain the support of those in charge at Old Trafford, it hasn't stopped fans and pundits alike speculating about his future – and who could replace him.
Zidane has long been touted as a top option for the position, although he's had his reservations in the past. Discussing the possibility of taking over in Manchester, he told L'Equipe in 2022: "Would I want to go to Manchester? I understand English, but I'm not completely fluent in it.
"I know that there are coaches who go to clubs without speaking the language, but I work in a different way. Many elements come into play in order to win, it is a global context. I know what I need to win."
Ruben Amorim manager of Manchester United looks dejected during the Premier League match between Brentford and Manchester United at Brentford Community Stadium on September 27, 2025 in Brentford, England.
Ruben Amorim is back under pressure(Image: Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images)
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It is not clear to what extent Zidane's grasp of English has developed in that time and whether he would be interested in the United job should it come available any time soon. While he is currently out of work, he has been strongly linked to the France job after the 2026 World Cup.
Former France international Emmanuel Petit also noted that his ex-teammate would need even more demands to be met if he were to set up camp in Manchester. Speaking in 2024, the Premier League icon said: "Honestly, I know a little bit, Zizou [Zidane], and he needs to get guarantees if he wants to sign over there in Manchester United.
"At the moment, the environment at Manchester United for years has not been good. The stability of the bench, the level of the players as well, the expectation of the club is not the same that it used to be.
Former French football player Zinedine Zidane arrives on stage during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024.
Zinedine Zidane has demands to be met if he was to set up shop in Manchester
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"United is still a huge club, but not on the pitch anymore. And Zizou is very conscious and very careful about that, the quality of the players."
He added: "If he takes the job at Manchester United, that means he's got solutions. At the moment, I'm not sure a lot of people have the solution to turn the situation at Manchester United.
"Does he want to leave the sunny days of Madrid? His life is in Madrid, he is dedicated to Madrid. I'm not sure that he speaks very good English as well. And communication is very important in the dressing room."
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