Zinedine Zidane has been out of work since leaving Real Madrid for a second time in 2021, but the Frenchman is now edging closer to a return to the dugout having been overlooked by Manchester United
Zinedine Zidane has been out of work since leaving Real Madrid for a second time in 2021, but the Frenchman is now edging closer to a return to the dugout having been overlooked by Manchester United Zinedine Zidane has been out of work since leaving Real Madrid for a second time in 2021, but the Frenchman is now edging closer to a return to the dugout having been overlooked by Manchester United
Zinedine Zidane is moving closer to taking his dream job with the France national team as Didier Deschamps faces a dressing room revolt.
Deschamps led Les Bleus to winning the 2018 World Cup, before reaching the final of the tournament in 2022. But the disappointing performances at Euro 2024 and a row with senior players has seen the former Marseille boss come under increasing pressure.
He has even left Kylian Mbappe out of the squad for their upcoming Nations League games, with the superstar reportedly ready to quit his country in anger at Deschamps. Mbappe is not the only one growing frustrated with the France boss’ leadership.
France host Israel and travel to Italy in their final games of the Nations League group stage next week, though it appears Deschamps will also be fighting to save his job.
According to reports in France, players in the national team set-up have become ‘fed up’ of Deschamps and his methods. They are now pushing for Zidane to take over as his replacement.
The icon had been seen as a potential contender for the Manchester United job before Ruben Amorim was appointed. Zidane has been out of work since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, having led them to two La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues across two spells in charge.
The former World Cup winner has courted the France job for some time and would be an ideal candidate to replace Deschamps. The current Les Bleus boss has a contract running till the 2026 World Cup and was publicly backed by the French Football Federation after Euro 2024.
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As well as his current conflict with Mbappe, Deschamps also saw Antoine Griezmann make a shock retirement from international football in September. Deschamps has been in charge of France for 12 years, though his reign looks to be in real trouble.
The 56-year-old has fiercely defended his decision to snub Mbappe from his latest squad. Deschamps pointed to his struggles for form at Madrid as the reason behind it, though his comments came before news of Mbappe’s unhappiness broke.
“I’ve had several exchanges with him. I reflected and I took this decision for this camp here because I think that it’s better like that. I’m not going to argue. Kylian wanted to come and it’s not non-sporting problems that are taken into account,” he said.
It’s a choice, I repeat, that is occasional, for this camp and the two matches that we have. I’m not going to tell you more for the reason that we have a camp with two matches with a goal that I set myself and which I stay with also, which is important.
“I know that there’s more of a tendency to highlight the negatives, but that’s not specific to the French national team. I repeat: it’s my decision because I think it’s better like that. I take responsibility for this decision, which is taken in absolute.”
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