27 February 2024 , 18:13
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Ineos have identified Zinedine Zidane as their top managerial target as they consider possible successors to Erik ten Hag.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his team are now in control of sporting operations at Manchester United after he formally acquired a 27.7 per cent stake in his boyhood club. Significant changes are expected with Ratcliffe now in place and Ten Hag's long-term future remains far from certain.
The Dutchman will have just one year to run on his contract in the summer and has overseen an underwhelming campaign. He has also yet to receive the public backing of Ratcliffe either, with a new report now claiming that the British billionaire and his team have aspirations of appointing a new coach in his stead.
Foot Mercato claim that Ineos 'dream' of luring Zidane to Old Trafford, even though the Frenchman has been out of work since leaving Real Madrid in 2021. The former Real Madrid head coach's reputation as an elite coach has endured, though, and Jean-Claude Blanc - Ineos' current chief executive - is a big fan of the legendary midfielder.
Blanc, who is expected to play a pivotal role at Manchester United moving forward, previously tried to lure Zidane to Paris Saint-Germain without success. Intriguingly, United themselves have courted Zidane themselves in the past.
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The 51-year-old was heavily linked with United when the club were seeking a permanent successor to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who was sacked in November 2021. Zidane later outlined that his inability to speak fluent English would hamper United's chances of landing him.
Speaking back in the summer of 2022, he was asked about his interest in United and replied: "Would I want to go to Manchester [United]? I understand English, but I’m not completely fluent in it. I know that there are coaches who go to clubs without speaking the language, but I work in a different way. Many elements come into play in order to win, it is a global context. I know what I need to win."
Join the debate! Would Zidane be a good appointment for Man Utd? Let us know here.
Erik ten Hag's long-term future at Old Trafford remains uncertain (Getty Images)During his time at the helm of Real Madrid, Zidane won two La Liga titles and three consecutive Champions League trophies. He had two separate spells in charge at the Bernabeu between 2016 and 2021.
Zidane has spoken openly about his desire to coach the French national team in the past. If he is now open to a return to club management, though, a host of top European sides are set be in the market for a new head coach this summer which could complicate things for United.
Ten Hag's future is likely to hinge heavily on results between now and the end of the season. United could reach the FA Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday but are currently eight points behind Aston Villa in the race to secure a Champions League spot for next year.
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