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Zinedine Zidane has spent four years out of management, yet continues to be linked with top jobs, including Manchester United. The French tactician secured two La Liga titles and masterminded an unprecedented hat-trick of successive Champions League victories during his two spells in charge of Real Madrid. The 53-year-old opted to leave Los Blancos in 2021 following a campaign without silverware, although his managerial accomplishments remain highly regarded. Zidane was linked with the United job before the club appointed Ruben Amorim last year, and speculation around him has continued this term . United have struggled to find consistency under Amorim, albeit the Portuguese manager will be hoping that last weekend's victory over Liverpool can serve as a catalyst for improvement. Meanwhile, Zidane remains unattached and has previously discussed the prospect of taking charge at United. In 2022, when asked about potentially accepting a Premier League role, Zidane told L'Equipe: "Never say never. Especially when you are a coach today. If I go back to a club, it is to win. I say this with all modesty. "That's why I can't just go anywhere. For other reasons, too. Certain conditions make things more difficult. When someone says to me, 'Do you want to go to Manchester [United]?' I understand English, but I don't fully master it. "I know 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. I know what I need to win. "Of course, I might not always win, but I know that you need to have this, this and this. And I want to do everything on my side to optimise my chances of victory." Whether Zidane now believes his grasp of English is sufficient to thrive in the Premier League remains unclear. Nevertheless, he sparked intrigue by observing a Real Betis training session last year. Zidane was reportedly watching his son Elyaz during first-team training, but there were hints that the former Real Madrid manager was gearing up for a return to management. Despite ongoing speculation about United, Zidane could soon secure his dream position. The World Cup champion has recently reiterated his ambition to manage France. The chance could materialise soon as Zidane's former teammate Didier Deschamps has announced his intention to step down following the 2026 World Cup, concluding what will be 14 years at the helm of Les Bleus. "I will definitely return," Zidane declared during his appearance at Festival dello Sport in Trento earlier this month. "In terms of the future, I don't know. My feeling is that I want to be able to coach the national team in the future, even though I don't mean right now. I would like to one day, but we'll see." However, Zidane remains uncertain about potentially taking charge at Juventus, where he enjoyed five seasons as a player. "I don't know. It hasn't happened before, I've made other choices," he said. "Juve will always remain in my heart, it gave me a lot from the beginning when I went there. As for the future, I don't know." Here at The Manchester Evening News, we are dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester United coverage and analysis. Make sure you don't miss out on the latest United news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe. You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day's biggest stories. And, finally, if you would rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Manchester is Red podcast. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts , and you can also watch along on YouTube .
