“I am sure” Zinedine Zidane has already opened the door to Man United manager job - soccerdelights.com
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“I am sure” Zinedine Zidane has already opened the door to Man United manager job

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“I am sure” Zinedine Zidane has already opened the door to Man United manager job

The World Cup winner has previously suggested he couldn’t take the Old Trafford job but is now keen on a return to management

Zinedine Zidane has opened the door to a potential move to Manchester United amid reported interest from Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

The three-time Champions League-winning manager has been out of work since 2021 after leaving Real Madrid for the second time, the only club he has coached.

Reports this week from France claim Ratcliffe, fresh from being confirmed as United’s new co-owner and in charge of all footballing matters at the English giants, has made Zidane his dream managerial appointment with INEOS ready to “do everything” to make the deal a reality.

BILBAO, SPAIN – MAY 16: Head coach Zinedine Zidane of Real Madrid reacts during the La Liga Santander match between Athletic Club and Real Madrid at Estadio de San Mames on May 16, 2021 in Bilbao, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Zidane has previously suggested that a move to an English club is a non-starter as he is not fluent in English. He told L’Equipe in 2022, a year after leaving Real Madrid: “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.”

Fast forward 18 months or so to this week and Zidane, filmed for a recent documentary about the life of Italin football legend Marcello Lippi, has confirmed that he will return to management.

Asked whether he will return to coaching, Zidane replied: “Why not? Anything can happen. But at the moment I’m doing something else.

“I am sure that I will return to the bench, I would like to coach again.”

 

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“That particular player was the reason we sacked Erik ten Hag and I have warned Ruud van Nistelrooy to avoid using him.

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“That particular player was the reason we sacked Erik ten Hag and I have warned Ruud van Nistelrooy to avoid using him, If he breached the instructions then it will be over for him also”: Sir Jim Ratchliffe warns new Man United’s manager to avoid using ONE player who was the reason Erik ten Hag was sacked

Erik ten Hag has become the fifth Man United manager to be sacked in the last decade with the new club chiefs left unimpressed with his results this calendar year.

The Dutchman won two trophies in two seasons but guided United to their lowest Premier League finish last term. He was kept on by the new board this summer following an end-of-season review.”

However, having won just three of his first nine league games this campaign, Ten Hag has been relieved of his duties after 128 games as manager. Step-in caretaker Ruud van Nistelrooy takes charge while a permanent successor is sourced.

Van Nistelrooy becomes the ninth different figure – temporary or permanent – to lead the club since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013. He follows Ryan Giggs, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick in being among the Scot’s former players to take charge of United.

Earlier this month, Sir Jim Ratcliffe informed Ferguson that he would be relinquishing his role of club ambassador at the end of the season. It is thought the move is part of his cost-cutting exercises at the club, having already sanctioned the redundancies of 250 staff members this year.

However, the 72-year-old – who wishes to see United build a new 100,000-seater Old Trafford – has made clear that decisions regarding the first-team manager are not within his remit.

Asked about the future of Ten Hag earlier this month, Ratcliffe deflected: “I like Erik. I think he’s a very good coach but at the end of the day it’s not my call, it’s the management team that’s running Manchester United that have to decide how we best run the team in many different respects.”

Ratcliffe oversaw a revamp of the United boardroom this summer, with old figures ushered out and new top brass headhunted. Former Manchester City chief Omar Berrada was announced as the club’s new CEO in January while technical director Jason Wilcox was pinched from Southampton.

United had to fork out compensation to Newcastle United when acquiring sporting director Dan Ashworth, who insisted that the decision to keep Ten Hag was made before his summer arrival. United will lose around £17million in sacking compensation to Ten Hag.

Ineos sporting chief Sir Dave Brailsford and Ineos CEO Jean-Claude Blanc are also on the board while Christopher Vivell sits as director of global talent.

While clarifying his role in the managerial turnover process, Ratcliffe urged the boardroom to “to take stock and make some sensible decisions,” having “not been there a long time.”

He underscored: “Our objective is very clear – we want to take Manchester United back to where it should be, and it’s not there yet, obviously – that’s very clear.”

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Club statement…

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Club statement…

Erik ten Hag has left his role as Manchester United men’s first-team manager.

Erik was appointed in April 2022 and led the club to two domestic trophies, winning the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024.

We are grateful to Erik for everything he has done during his time with us and wish him well for the future.

Ruud van Nistelrooy will take charge of the team as interim head coach, supported by the current coaching team, whilst a permanent head coach is recruited.

 

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Ten Hag out!! Predicted Man United line up under Xavi Hernandez – as INEOS set to sack Ten Hag if He fails to deliver West Ham game tomorrow

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Ten Hag out!! Predicted Man United line up under Xavi Hernandez – as INEOS set to sack Ten Hag if He fails to deliver West Ham game tomorrow

Barcelona legend Xavi has made his stance on Manchester United clear amid reports linking him as a possible replacement for Erik ten Hag as manager at Old Trafford. Ten Hag is under mounting pressure following a lackluster start to the season, with his side winning only three of their first eight Premier League matches.
This disappointing run has fueled speculation about his future, and names like former England manager Gareth Southgate, Brentford boss Thomas Frank, and Xavi have all surfaced as potential replacements.
Xavi’s thoughts on Manchester United have resurfaced from a past interview, providing some insight into his view of the club.
Speaking after Barcelona’s Europa League tie against Manchester United in 2023, the former Barca midfielder expressed respect for the Red Devils and praised Ten Hag for the progress he had made with the team. “I think Manchester is coming back, and they showed their best,” Xavi said in an interview with TNT Sport. “We need to be proud.
I think both teams are more or less in the same moment, in the same position, that we are coming back. I said to Ten Hag now, ‘Congratulations,’ because he’s doing very well and they are Manchester United.”
Xavi’s remarks reflected his belief that both Barcelona and United were in periods of rebuilding, with the potential to reestablish themselves as top contenders in Europe.
He even hinted that future meetings between the two clubs could happen in the latter stages of the Champions League. His praise for United and Ten Hag has now taken on new relevance as discussions about his potential move to the Premier League intensify.
Reports have emerged suggesting that Manchester United CEO Omar Berrada traveled to Spain for two rounds of talks with Xavi to explore the possibility of bringing him to Old Trafford.
However, it seems that Xavi, who is currently enjoying some time away from the game, is not interested in cutting his break short. According to the Spanish newspaper AS, the 44-year-old has no intention of returning to management just yet, even if it means passing up a significant opportunity with a club as prestigious as Manchester United.
Meanwhile, Ten Hag has addressed the ongoing rumors surrounding his job, expressing frustration with the media’s portrayal of his situation. Before United’s recent 2-1 win over Brentford, Ten Hag dismissed the speculation, calling it “noise” created by the press. “Noise is only coming from some of you [media], creating stories and fairytales, bringing lies,” he said.
Ten Hag emphasized that while the team is unhappy with its current position in the league, they remain calm and confident in their plan. He assured that despite the speculation, he believes success will come under his leadership.
The situation leaves Manchester United in a state of uncertainty, with Ten Hag fighting to keep his position amid a difficult run of form, while Xavi, one of the names floated as a possible successor, seems uninterested in taking over at this time. As rumors continue to swirl, both the club and its fans await further developments.

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