Zinedine Zidane has reportedly rejected an offer to coach the men’s United States National Team, offering a glimmer of hope to any Premier League clubs retaining an interest in his services.
Zidane hasn’t coached since departing Real Madrid for the second time following the conclusion of the 2020/21 season. He first took the helm at the Galacticos in 2016 and found plenty of success in his initial two and a half seasons.
Zidane became the first coach to win the Champions League three times in a row, won the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup twice each, and added a La Liga title and a Supercopa de España. His incredible success meant Zidane was named being named Best FIFA Men’s Coach in 2017.
The 50-year-old resigned in 2018, but returned to the club in 2019 and won another La Liga and Super Cup title before leaving once again in 2021. He has been vocal in his desire to lead his home country France after 18 months away from the game, but Didier Deschamps inked a new contract with the team after reaching the World Cup Final.
Despite falling on penalties to Argentina, Deschamps was rewarded with a new deal that means he will lead Les Bleus at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be contested in Mexico, Canada and the United States. Zidane has had no shortage of suitors despite his French heartache, rejecting approaches from Brazil, Portugal and the United States.
According to L’Equipe, Zidane does not want to coach a national team unless it’s France. Brazil - who lost to France 3-0 in the 1998 World Cup Final with Zidane netting two - hoped to secure his services after Tite’s dismissal, but he reportedly does not want to coach a nation whose language he cannot speak.
Zidane speaks Spanish and French, which perhaps helped him reject Portugal and the USMNT roles too. It is believed Zidane would rather wait for the French job - even if that means he is out of a job until 2026.
During an interview with L’Equipe in May 2022, Zidane was adamant he will wait for the right challenge rather than rush into a job when the opportunity arises. He said: “I am instinctive. I don't like fixed things, saying tomorrow I'll do this or that. I will resume when I resume as a coach.
“I really like this idea of my life. I do what I feel when I feel it. But I do it mostly with my heart. That's why I might not be able to go everywhere. Some conditions make things difficult. To win, many elements come into play. It's a global context. Me, I know what I need to win. I say this with all modesty. That's why I can't go anywhere.”
However, Zidane refused to close the door on returning to club football amid links to PSG and Juventus. He added: “Never say never, especially when you are a coach. When I was a player, I had the choice, almost all the clubs. Coach, now there aren't fifty clubs I can go to. There are two or three possibilities. This is the current reality.”
