Date: 9 September 2025
What’s new
French reports suggest Zinedine Zidane is quietly laying the groundwork to take over Les Bleus once Didier Deschamps steps down after the 2026 World Cup. The Real Madrid legend has been out of management since 2021 but remains one of the most coveted coaches in the game.
Why it matters for Man Utd
Persistent chatter has tethered Zidane to Manchester United, especially amid doubts over Ruben Amorim. United scraped their first league win before the international break and tumbled out of the EFL Cup to Grimsby, keeping pressure high around Amorim’s project. Zidane’s France focus makes an Old Trafford move look unlikely in the near term.
What Zidane has said
Zidane has long framed France as the dream job: he’s spoken about feeling “legitimate” with the national team and that managing Les Bleus would be a “great pleasure” when the time is right. Publicly, he’s kept respect for Deschamps’ tenure and timeline.
Deschamps’ stance
The current France boss has praised Zidane as a “natural” candidate and acknowledged the mutual respect between the pair. With France targeting continuity post-2026, a Zidane handover would be widely popular at home.
The state of play at United
- Manager: Ruben Amorim (under a year in post)
- Form notes: First league win arrived late; early EFL Cup exit
- Mood: Mixed — optimism about Amorim’s long-term ideas vs. short-term nerves
What’s next
- For France: A decision crystalises as 2026 approaches; Zidane remains front-runner.
- For United: Amorim needs steady results after the break — starting with a derby away to Man City — to quieten the Zidane noise for good.
