Zinedine Zidane hints at managerial return: Which club could he manage?

• Zinedine Zidane has hinted at a return to football management after a three-year hiatus
• Zidane, who has been away from the spotlight for some time now, has only managed Real Madrid over the course of his career
• The 51-year-old has a lot of opportunities to explore this summer

Former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has hinted at a return to football management after a three-year hiatus.

The Frenchman, who was last on the sidelines in 2021, had previously said that he wants to manage the France national team. However, it seems he will return to club management after France head coach Didier Deschamps was offered a new contract by the French Football Federation last year.

Speaking at the screening of a documentary about former Italy and Juventus coach Marcello Lippi, Zidane discussed his future saying he’d like to return to coaching.

Zinedine Zidane has hinted that he could soon return to coaching. Photo/ Goal.com.

“Why not, anything can happen. Now, I’m doing other things, but we’ll see – I’d certainly like to return to the bench.” Zidane said after being asked if he would return to coaching, as per Goal.com.

Which Teams Could Zinedine Zidane Manage?

Zinedine Zidane, who has been away from the spotlight for some time now, has only managed Real Madrid over the course of his managerial career. He won a total of eleven trophies, including three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles, during his two stints with the Los Blancos between 2016 and 2021.

Zidane is currently unemployed but this summer has plenty of opportunities for him to explore, with Bayern Munich, FC Barcelona and Liverpool all confirming that the current managers will be leaving. Here, we take a look at several top clubs the Frenchman could manage.

1. Juventus 

Things have not been well at Juventus for some time now. The Old Lady have been struggling both in domestic competitions and European matches, and might need someone who has proven himself like Zidane to help them get back to the good old days.

Zinedine Zidane is a Juventus legend. Photo/ Juvefc.com.

Fortunately for the Italian side, Zizou is a legend of the club and would jump at a chance to coach the team, according to Juvefc.com, who spoke to someone special to the 51-year-old. The Frenchman played over 200 games for Juventus, winning several titles.

2. Bayern Munich 

According to the report by Juvefc.com, Zidane would only coach Juventus, Bayern Munich or the France national team. Considering the fact that Zizou is not getting the Les Bleus job anytime soon, he could either join Juve or Bayern Munich.

The Bundesliga giants are already looking for a new manager after announcing that the club will part ways with current coach Thomas Tuchel at the end of this season. While Xabi Alonso is on top of the list of favourites to replace Tuchel, Zidane is also a strong contender.

3. Liverpool

Premier League giants Liverpool will be needing a new manager from this summer as Jurgen Klopp is set to step down because he is “running out of energy”. Klopp, who recently led the Reds to triumph in the Carabao Cup, has shot down rumours that he could have a change of mind, even if the club wins four trophies at the end of the season.

Zinedine Zidane is one of the perfect candidates to take over from Klopp but that would depend on him. He previously rejected moves to the Premier League but Football365 is reporting that he might be tempted with Liverpool’s job.

Zinedine Zidane. Photo/ Marca.

4. Chelsea

Mauricio Pochettino had the chance to win his first silverware as Chelsea boss on Sunday but he failed to do so despite facing a weaker Liverpool side that is struggling with injuries.

Chelsea have lacked rhythm this season and are currently 11th on the Premier League table. Even though they are still alive in the FA Cup, their confidence is wanting, putting them at risk of being eliminated.

It’s surely a matter of time before Pochettino is kicked out of the club and that’s where Zidane might come in. The Frenchman was previously linked with Chelsea before Frank Lampard was brought back as manager.

Conclusion

It remains to be seen if Zinedine Zidane returns to action this summer. If he does, then one of the above clubs is likely to be his destination, with Juventus and Bayern Munich being the favourites to snap him. Zizou’s legacy during his stint at Real Madrid makes him a favourite to lead many European clubs.