Former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane is open to a return to management and is said to have an agreement to become the next Marseille manager in the event of a takeover
Zinedine Zidane is said to have an agreement in place to become the next manager of Marseille should the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) successfully takeover the club.
Zidane has been out of work since leaving Real Madrid in the summer of 2021 and was linked to the Manchester United hot seat two seasons ago. He was approached by United officials in late 2021 amid the dismissal of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but poured cold water on any move to English football.
The legendary former midfielder has frequently spoken of his desire to return to management after two successful stints at the helm of Real Madrid. He won three Champions League titles across two stints at the club alongside two La Liga titles.
French president Emmanuel Macron has previously spoken of his ambition to help persuade Zidane to return to football in Ligue 1, but the former midfielder appears to have little interest in moving to Paris Saint-Germain – arch rivals of his home city of Marseille.
A report in France Bleu Provence has outlined how Zidane has a theoretical agreement in place with the PIF (also owners of Newcastle ), who are aiming to take over Marseille from current owner Frank McCourt. They are keen on a bid for the club although it appears that, as things stand, McCourt is unwilling to sell.
It is believed that PIF have identified Marseille as the ideal club to take over due to their status and standing in French football, with their regional rivals Qatar owning PSG through Qatari Sports Investment (QSI). PIF would bankroll Marseille to compete not only domestically in Europe.
Zidane has been linked with a third spell in charge of Los Blancos in Spain amid uncertainty over the future of Carlo Ancelotti, who has been linked with the vacant Brazil managerial role. However, Ancelotti is likely to remain in post until this summer and the club will look to go in a fresh direction thereafter.
In an interview earlier this year, Zidane discussed his future and asked: “Am I still able to do things as a coach? Yes, a lot of things, or at least some, I believe. Zidane is thought to be only interested in a position at a team where he has an emotional investment, such as former teams Real Madrid and Juventus, as well as Marseille — his childhood team for which he never played.
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