Former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane reportedly wants his next managerial stint to be in the English Premier League and especially at Manchester United.
According to a report run by L’Équipe, Zidane is open to taking over the reigns at Manchester United at some point.
They posted a tweet that read:
@GFFN: Zinedine Zidane is eyeing the Premier League & “particularly” Manchester United as his next managerial career move, according to tomorrow’s L’Équipe.
Zidane enjoyed a stellar stint while at the helm at the Bernabeu, winning the Champions League three times and a La Liga title in less than three seasons.
Jose Mourinho on the other hand is yet to win any major title for the Old Trafford outfit.
He has so far only managed to win them a Community Shield as well as one piece of the League Cup and the Europa League titles.
If Manchester United was to replace him with the Frenchman, the later would surely be considered an upgrade to the Portuguese tactician.
He has at many times found himself at loggerheads with a section of United fans due to his overly defensive brand of football and players have allegedly started resenting his style.
He is still out of work despite a successful spell in the Spanish capital in what was the 46-year-old’s first senior managerial role.
During his time at the Bernabeu, the former Juventus midfielder also guided Real Madrid to the La Liga title in 2017 as well as two Club World Cup victories.
And, having spent almost three months away from the dugout, Zidane reportedly wants to get back to work.
Zidane was a member of Jose Mourinho’s coaching staff at Real Madrid Bookies Betfair have Zidane – who previously worked on Mourinho’s coaching staff at Real Madrid – as 5/2 favourite to replace the Portuguese if he is given his marching orders.
Other names in the running include Ryan Giggs, Carlo Ancelotti and Brendan Rodgers.
The Red Devils did finish second behind Manchester City in the Premier League though sat 19 points adrift of the champions.
Mourinho’s side were also FA Cup finalists but were beaten by Eden Hazard’s penalty at Wembley in May.
And pundit Chris Sutton thinks Mourinho is damaging United’s brand and may be sacked as a result.
“Not only has Jose Mourinho risked alienating his players and the fans in pre-season but he is damaging Manchester United’s brand, too. Carry on like this and he won’t be at the club come Christmas,” he said.
“Mourinho, the figurehead of the world’s biggest football club, told the 101,000 supporters who watched United’s 4-1 defeat by Liverpool in Michigan that they should have stayed away.
“He is starting to sound like a manager who wants out. To start dishing out ultimatums on transfer spending smacks of desperation. Once you start taking on the board, there is usually only one winner.
“Should Mourinho continue in this vein and his side suffer a slow start to the season, United will rapidly run out of patience.”
United began their Premier League season with a 2-1 win over Leicester on Friday thanks to goals from Paul Pogba and Luke Shaw.
They next face Brighton as they travel to the south coast on Sunday