Zinedine Zidane will forever be remembered as one of Real Madrid’s biggest legends. Not just an extraordinary player for the Spanish giants, but a man who also enjoyed remarkable success during his two spells as the club’s manager.
No club had successfully defended the Champions League title after it was rebranded from the European Cup in 1992 until Zidane came along. The Frenchman cemented his status as one of Real Madrid’s greatest managers by guiding Cristiano Ronaldo and co. to Champions League glory in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Zidane left the Bernabeu for the third time (once as a player, and twice as a manager) in 2021 and, despite being linked with a host of top jobs since then, hasn’t returned to coaching.
It wasn’t a shock that Real Madrid recently listed Zidane as one of their two preferred candidates to replace the under-fire Xabi Alonso, according to reports in Spain. Everything the enigmatic 53-year-old touches tends to turn to gold and Florentino Perez would surely relish the opportunity to bring him back to the Bernabeu if the Alonso appointment backfires.
But Zidane may feel the time is coming for a brand-new challenge away from Madrid. There’s talk that he could succeed France’s long-serving manager Didier Deschamps after the 2026 World Cup finals. That may be an opportunity that appeals more to him than another job in club football.
The only other club side you could imagine Zidane coaching one day is Juventus - another European giant that he played for during his illustrious career. While he’s continuously linked with Premier League clubs, his lack of English will continue to deter him from taking a job in England.
One Club On Same Level as Real Madrid in Zidane's Eyes
Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane
According to one of Zidane’s close friends - as reported by Source 1 and relayed by Foot Mundo in 2024 - Zidane “certainly doesn’t want to go to England”. The same pal also revealed that Zidane sees one other club on the same level as Real Madrid - but it’s not Barcelona, or even one of his other former clubs like Juventus.
“Zidane would walk back to Juventus and would only coach the Bianconeri, the French national team or Bayern Munich,” the friend said.
“He sees Bayern like Real Madrid: an institution, a club with a great past and excellent working conditions."
“The two clubs have many similarities in the way they work. In this sense, he has never rejected this idea. Zizou works like a German. He is goal-oriented, structured and very detail-oriented.
“In this sense, he would undoubtedly fit well. But if the Munich leaders want to bring him in, they must give him sporting power and respond to his wishes.”
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Bayern eventually appointed Vincent Kompany as Thomas Tuchel’s successor and haven’t looked back since. However, Bayern will be immensely proud to know that Zidane - one of the greatest footballers of all time - believes they sit alongside Real Madrid on the pantheon of elite European clubs.