In response to rumours that he would succeed Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid, Zinedine Zidane has already expressed his thoughts on a possible return to management.
Since leaving his position as head coach of Real Madrid in 2021, 52-year-old Zidane has been unemployed.
He had already played for the Spanish powerhouses throughout his professional career, and this was his second stint as their manager.
Zidane won two La Liga championships and the Champions League in three straight seasons from 2015–16 to 2017–18 during his two separate stints as the team’s manager.
Zidane has stayed away from football despite being connected to a number of high-profile managerial positions in recent years, including Manchester United and the French national team.
However, that might soon change.
The renowned midfielder was seen at the Bernabeu on Tuesday night during Real Madrid’s Champions League loss to AC Milan, which ended in a 3-1 loss.
Given that Madrid is currently 17th in the Champions League standings and nine points behind Barcelona in La Liga, that outcome has put more pressure on Ancelotti.
As a result, there have been rumours that Ancelotti, 65, may be fired. According to Spanish publication Relevo, his position is now “under threat.”
Naturally, Zidane’s participation at the game and those allegations have sparked rumours that the Frenchman would take over as head coach again.
Zidane has already expressed his wish to manage again in the future, but only at a team he thinks he can succeed.
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Speaking to L’Equipe, Zidane said: “When I was a player, I could choose almost every club. As a coach, there aren’t 50 clubs I can go to. There are two or three possibilities.
“If I go back to a club, it’s to win. I say this in all modesty. That’s why I can’t go anywhere.”
He added: “For other reasons, too, I might not be able to go everywhere. Which ones? The language, for example. Certain conditions make things more difficult.
“When people say to me: ‘Do you want to go to Manchester [United]?’ I understand English but I don’t fully master it. I know that there are coaches who go to clubs without speaking the language, but I work differently.
“To win, many elements come into play. It’s a global context. Me, I know what I need to win.”
