Should Chelsea decide that it is time for a sea-change and that their next manager needs to be a win at all costs type of guy then they know just the man. Serial Champions League-winning coach Zinedine Zidane is on the market.
The Frenchman has already announced himself as an elite boss with three European titles. When it comes to the biggest characters out there, he is up with the best. This would no doubt appeal to Roman Abramovich but there is a question as to how much it would cultivate Todd Boehly's working model at Stamford Bridge.
Despite the doubts, Zidane is still amongst the names linked with the SW6 hot seat as Graham Potter endures a run of form worse than any Blues boss for 30 years. As savvy businessmen, Boehly/Clearlake Capital need an exit route for their coach and also a back-up plan.
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It is said that Zidane is on the shortlist of men that could replace Potter should things not turnaround, so here, football.london has got the latest on the two-time world coach of the year.
Frontrunner for the job
According to Spanish outlet Sport, Luis Enrique and Zinedine Zidane are both 'in the running' to replace Potter, should the decision be made to part ways.
Both men are out of a job currently so wouldn't require a compensation package like Potter did and both have had major success in Spain, winning four out of the five La Liga titles between them from 2015 to 2020.
What pundits have said
Speaking to Premier League Odds, former Chelsea midfield Emmanuel Petit said: "Zinedine Zidane doesn’t speak English so he’s not the proper choice for Chelsea to replace Potter, with all due respect to my former teammate."
Meanwhile Zidane himself has already spoken about the possibility of coming back into management in the near future. He has been out of a job since 2021. In an interview with Telefoot in June 2022, Zidane confirmed his desire to resume his coaching career. "Am I still able to contribute things as a coach? Yes, many things, or I think at least some!
"I want to continue with that career because I still have the desire – it is my passion. I am 50 years old, fulfilled, I'm happy, that's the most important thing."
Timeframe to return
Zidane also spoke at the Alpine F1 car launch earlier this month, saying: “Now I have time, but I don't know for how long. I know I want to coach again, maybe I will have time until June, but things can go very fast — for sure, to resume coaching remains my desire."
When previously explaining the conditions he would like to work in he has described: "I need to surround myself with people that I feel comfortable with. Without them, it could not work."
He also told L'Equipe: "If I go to a club, it's to win. I say this in all modesty. That's why I can't go anywhere. For other reasons, too, I might not be able to go everywhere. Which ones? The language, for example. Certain conditions make things more difficult.
"When people say to me: 'Do you want to go to Manchester?' I understand English but I don't fully master it.
"I know that 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. Me, I know what I need to win."
France committment
Zidane has previously been tipped to manage the French national team after Didier Deschamps' reign in charge. Whilst he is 5/1 to become the next Chelsea manager, third favourite, he has previously explained that his work with the national side is not done.
“I'm not finished with Les Bleus," Zidane added. "I want to do it, of course. I will be [France coach], I hope, one day. When? That's not up to me. I want to come full circle with the France national team. I met this French team as a player, and it's the best thing that ever happened to me.
“It is the peak. So, since I went through that and now I am a coach, the French team is firmly anchored in my head. Succeed [Didier] Deschamps? I don't know. If it has to be done, it will be done, at that time or not. When I say I want to take charge of the French national team one day, I'm assuming. Currently, a team has been created. With their goals, but if the opportunity comes later, I will be there.
"Again, it's not up to me. My deepest desire is there. The French national team is the most beautiful thing there is.”
World Cup statement
On the eve of the World Cup Zidane dropped a bombshell, telling RMC: "I will be back soon. Wait, wait a little bit. Soon, soon. I'm not far from coaching again."
Meanwhile Zidane's former teammate Thierry Henry backed this up, telling CBS Sports: "I think he is waiting for the national team. So I’m not going to go there. I don’t think he will go there [Juventus]. I think he is waiting for one thing and one thing only and that’s the national team."
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