Zinédine Zidane has turned down an approach from Olympique de Marseille to fill their managerial vacancy, according to a report from Mundo Deportivo. The Marseille-born 1998 World Cup winner has reportedly received a call from Les Phocéens on whether he’d be interested in taking over the managerless OM. Zidane was reportedly not convinced by the current sporting project spearheaded by Marseille’s president Pablo Longoria. The Spaniard eventually appointed free agent Gennaro Gattuso.
Zidane is currently out of job in world football since his departure from Real Madrid at the end of the 2020-21 season. The three-time Champions League winner as Los Merengues manager (2016, 2017, 2018) is reportedly eyeing to replace Didier Deschamps as head of France’s national team. Deschamps signed a surprise four-year contract extension as Les Bleus boss until the 2026 World Cup.
Mundo Deportivo reports that Zidane could be interested in coaching Marseille, the club of his hometown, only under a new ownership whose ambitions may match Zidane’s. The Spanish outlet adds that Zidane wants to resume his trophy-laden coaching career. Succeeding Carlo Ancelotti for a third stint at Real Madrid is presumably one of the options on his mind. The Italian manager is expected to depart La Casa Blanca next summer.
GFFN | Bastien Cheval
