ZINEDINE ZIDANE would only return to management for two teams… and neither of them play in the Premier League.
Zidane, 52, has been a free agent since his departure from Real Madrid in 2021 when his second stint as manager ended.
That is despite winning a staggering two LaLiga titles and a record three successive Champions League trophies with Real across two stints.
Nevertheless, the French tactician has been inundated with offers the last three years but he rejected every single one of them.
Zizou was approached by some of the biggest clubs in the world, including Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain.
Several national teams had also approached the 1998 Ballon d’Or winner but they were also turned down.
According to Marca, that is because Zidane would only be keen to work at Real and France at this time.
The main reason goes down to loyalty as the Frenchman couldn’t see himself managing any other club or country than his beloved Los Blancos and Tricolores.
The same source claims only a “very groundbreaking project” could make him change his mind.
That is despite the fact that at this moment it would be “impossible” to work at either of his preferred teams.
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Carlo Ancelotti just recently led Real to their 36th LaLiga title and 15th Champions League trophy.
And former team-mate Didier Deschamps has signed a new deal with France tying him up as manager until the 2026 World Cup.
Previous reports have suggested Zidane would only like to work in a country where he speaks the language, which means he’d only be keen on Spain and France.
Zinedine Zidane began his career in management in June 2014 when he was appointed coach of Real Madrid's B team.
Zizou spent 18 months in charge of Real Madrid Castilla before being given his shot at the big time following the sacking of Rafael Benitez.
Zidane, 51, took charge of the first team in January 2016 and guided them to a second-place finish in his maiden season at the Bernabeu helm.
But he went one better in the Champions League, sealing Real’s 11th European Cup triumph with a shootout victory over Atletico Madrid.
The former Los Blancos star went one better in the league in the 2016-17 season, in which they also won the Uefa Super Cup and Club World Cup.
A second successive Champions League triumph also followed, with Real beating Italian giants Juventus at the Principality Stadium.
He would create history the following season by becoming the first manager to win the tournament three times on the bounce.
A 3-1 win over Liverpool saw Real become the first team to win Europe’s elite club competition three times in a row.
Zidane announced his resignation five days after the final, insisting the club needed a “change” of direction.
He would return to the Bernabeu in March 2019 following Santiago Solari and Julen Lopetegui’s short reigns.
A return to the summit of Spanish football would follow in the 2019-20 season, in which Real also scooped the Spanish Super Cup.
Zidane would leave the Bernabeu again in June 2021 after overseeing Real’s first trophyless season in 11 years.
Zinedine Zidane’s Honours:
– La Liga: 2016–17, 2019–20
– Supercopa de España: 2017, 2019–20
– UEFA Champions League: 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18
– UEFA Super Cup: 2016, 2017
– FIFA Club World Cup: 2016, 2017
