The 52-year-old French superstar was first connected to the Man United position in 2021.
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Zinedine Zidane has acknowledged that it is doubtful that he would become manager of Manchester United, citing his unwillingness to work in England as a major contributing factor.
The Frenchman has been out of management since his second Real Madrid departure in 2021, although he has regularly been connected to elite teams, including United.
Zidane has, however, previously acknowledged that the language barrier makes him hesitant to sign with a Premier League team.
He acknowledged that he understood English in an interview with L’Equipe, but he felt insufficiently skilled to function well in an English-speaking setting.
According to Zidane, effective communication is essential for success, and he wants to work in a setting where he can interact with the team fully and without being constrained by linguistic barriers.
Zidane said, “I work differently,” in contrast to certain managers who feel at ease teaching in foreign languages. He also emphasised that a number of conditions must be met for him to be able to join a club, with language being one of the most important.
“Would I want to go to Manchester [United]?” asked the 52-year-old. I’m not fluent in English, but I do comprehend it. Although I am aware that some instructors visit groups without knowing the language, my approach to coaching is different.
“Many factors come into play in order to win; it is a global context,” he continued. I know what I must do to prevail.
Zidane has declined a number of prestigious positions after leaving Real Madrid, including offers from Bayern Munich and other national teams.
Zidane has stated that, should the proper opportunity present itself, he will return to management, albeit it is unlikely Manchester United will be that place.
In 2014, Zidane started his coaching career with Real Madrid Castilla, the club’s reserve squad.
In January 2016, he was elevated to the position of first-team manager at Real Madrid, replacing Rafael Benitez during a difficult time for the team.
Zidane had an instantaneous and profound effect. He defeated Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final to help Real Madrid win the championship in his debut season.
He became the first manager in the modern era to win the Champions League three times in a row in 2017 and 2018, and his success continued as he led the team to two more straight titles in the competition.
Zidane’s success was largely attributed to his ability to oversee a locker room full of elite players like Luka Modric, Sergio Ramos, and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Zidane guided Real Madrid to victories in the country in addition to his success in Europe. In the 2016–17 season, he defeated close rivals Barcelona to win LaLiga.
In addition, the team won two UEFA Super Cups and two FIFA Club World Cups during his leadership, solidifying his reputation as a highly skilled manager.
Zidane stunned the football world by resigning as Real Madrid manager following his third Champions League victory in 2018. He gave the excuse that a change was necessary both at the club and in his own career.
But he didn’t stay away from football for long. After Santiago Solari was fired from Real Madrid less than a year later, in March 2019, Zidane rejoined the team and took on the task of reassembling a struggling squad.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Zidane led Real Madrid to the 2020 La Liga championship during his second spell.
This victory was viewed as evidence of his versatility because he assembled a fresh squad without Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Juventus in 2018.
Even yet, his second stint was inconsistent despite his achievements, especially in the Champions League, where Real Madrid was eliminated before the final.
Zidane left Real Madrid for the second time in May 2021, this time expressing his dissatisfaction with the management team’s lack of guidance and support.
Despite all of his achievements, he was unhappy with the way his exit was handled, as he stated in his farewell letter.
Zidane has been connected to a number of prestigious roles since leaving, including those with Manchester United, PSG, and the French national team.
Zidane hasn’t given much away regarding his next move, though, stating that he won’t go back into management until the project fits with his goals.