As the pressure continues to mount on Erik ten Hag, the reasons Zinedine Zidane gave for not wanting to accept the Manchester United managerial role have resurfaced. Despite Manchester United’s history and stature in the footballing world, Zidane has previously expressed reservations about taking on the challenge at Old Trafford, with language being a major hurdle.
Ten Hag, who is 54 years old, finds himself in a precarious position after suffering two defeats in just three Premier League games this season. The most painful of those losses came in a humiliating 3-0 defeat at the hands of Liverpool, intensifying the scrutiny on his performance. Since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, the 52-year-old Zidane has been on the sidelines, but his name has often been linked with the Manchester United job during periods of managerial instability at the club.
However, the chances of Sir Jim Ratcliffe persuading Zidane to reconsider and take over the reins at Old Trafford seem slim, unless Zidane has had a change of heart about managing in England. Zidane was notably linked to the club back in 2021, shortly after the departure of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but despite the allure of managing one of the biggest clubs in the world, Zidane ultimately turned down the opportunity.
In an interview with L’Equipe not long after turning down the United job, Zidane candidly explained that the language barrier was a significant factor in his decision. He acknowledged that while he understands English, his mastery of the language is far from complete. “I understand English, but I do not totally master it,” Zidane said. “I work differently, even though I know some coaches take on roles at clubs without fully speaking the local language.” He further emphasized that winning is a complex process involving many facets, and his approach requires a global perspective. Zidane made it clear that he knows what it takes to win, and perhaps he believes that overcoming the language barrier is too great of an obstacle for him to implement his methods successfully.
Whether Zidane’s English proficiency has improved since then remains a mystery, but if it hasn’t, it is likely that Ratcliffe and the Manchester United hierarchy will have to rule him out as a serious candidate. That being said, there were reports earlier this year, sourced from France, indicating that Zidane had shown some level of interest in the Manchester United job. However, this was before Ten Hag signed his contract, and it remains unclear whether Zidane’s stance has softened since then.
Interestingly, Zinedine Zidane is not the only high-profile name linked with the Manchester United job. Former Chelsea boss, Thomas Tuchel, was also in discussions with United after his exit from Bayern Munich at the end of last season. There were serious negotiations between the two parties, and a deal was reportedly close to being finalized. However, United ultimately decided to stick with Ten Hag amid speculation that Tuchel was dissatisfied with the club’s transfer policy and overall direction.
The future remains uncertain for both Ten Hag and Manchester United. As speculation continues to swirl about his potential replacements, one thing is clear—Zidane remains a highly sought-after manager, but the chances of seeing him in the Premier League, especially at the helm of Manchester United, are still uncertain due to his earlier reservations about language and perhaps other factors. Only time will tell if Zidane’s position will shift, or if United will have to explore other managerial options should the need for a change arise.