When a coach hailed as a "legend" in the football world repeatedly declines invitations from top clubs, what lies behind this? Is it a protection of his own status or disdain for the current state of certain teams? Zinedine Zidane's "indifferent attitude" towards Manchester United has once again sparked heated discussions. Why can't the "Red Devils" attract this "triple crown" coach?
Zidane, who wrote history with three consecutive Champions League titles at Real Madrid, is considered one of the few "legendary coaches" in the football world. His brilliant record as both a player and a coach has made countless clubs eager to have him. However, since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, he has not accepted any coaching invitations. Manchester United, as a traditional powerhouse in the Premier League, has experienced frequent changes in managers in recent years. Whether it was Mourinho, Solskjaer, or Ten Hag, none of them were able to bring about a true revival for the team. Naturally, Zidane became a multiple-time target for Manchester United. As early as the Mourinho era, Manchester United extended an olive branch to Zidane, and in recent years, they have repeatedly hoped to invite him back to the coaching bench. However, each invitation was rejected by Zizou.
Zidane's disinterest in coaching Manchester United has never changed. He once privately revealed that he places great importance on the triple crown legend he created at Real Madrid and is unwilling to risk coaching a team in chaos, which could potentially ruin his coaching reputation. The current state of Manchester United is obviously one of the reasons why Zidane avoids it. According to sources, Manchester United is not only chaotic in terms of competition but also plagued with management issues. Old Trafford Stadium was even downgraded due to hygiene problems, with rat infestations in the restaurant and frequent leaks in the locker room. These off-field messes make Zidane feel that Manchester United is not a place where he can display his talents.
But the deeper reason lies in Zidane's extremely cautious choice of coaching teams. His legendary status and coaching record make him reluctant to take risks easily. According to Marca, there are only two teams that can truly attract Zidane to return to coaching: Real Madrid at the club level and the French national team at the national level. For other teams, Zidane has never shown genuine interest, even for giants like Juventus or Bayern Munich.
Netizens also have various opinions on Zidane's refusal of Manchester United. Some fans express understanding, believing that the current state of Manchester United is indeed unsuitable for a coach like Zidane who pursues stability and achievement. "Manchester United is like a mess, and anyone who takes over may destroy their reputation." There are also netizens who question Zidane's excessive caution, thinking that his coaching success is related to Real Madrid's squad advantage and luck, "After leaving Real Madrid, is he afraid that his myth will be broken?" For Zidane's choice, more people see it as a legendary coach protecting his own career.
This is not the first time that top coaches have made cautious choices about teams in the football world. After Guardiola left Barcelona, although he received numerous invitations, he insisted on his coaching philosophy and would only take over a team that perfectly matched him. Klopp also had a gap year after leaving Borussia Dortmund before finally choosing Liverpool. Zidane's approach is consistent with these top coaches. Apparently, he prefers to wait for a challenge that fully meets his expectations rather than taking over a team in trouble at will.
Currently, Zidane still lives in Madrid, focusing on his family and career. He has even founded a five-a-side football club school to provide opportunities for troubled youths to engage in sports. Judging from this, Zidane seems to be in no hurry to return to coaching but chooses to wait for the opportunity that truly belongs to him.
As time goes by, Zidane's name will continue to appear frequently on the list of candidates for major club managers. As for Manchester United, they have chosen a new direction and have not invited Zidane again. Every period of silence for a legend may be brewing for the next glory. But whether Zidane can create another legend, or whether there will be an "innovative project" outside of Real Madrid or the French team that makes him come out of retirement, these answers can only be revealed by time.