Is Zinedine Zidane Finally Done Chilling and Ready to Coach Again?

Remember Zinedine Zidane? The guy who was so good at football he could make a bald head look like the most aerodynamic thing on the planet? The midfield maestro who ended his playing career with, let’s say, a bang? Well, after a long hiatus from the beautiful game, it seems the legendary Frenchman is getting that itch to stand on the sidelines and yell at highly-paid athletes again.

After leaving his cushy manager job at Real Madrid for the second time back in 2021, Zidane has been living the good life. He’s been spotted playing padel, hanging out with his equally talented sons, and generally enjoying a break from the high-stress world of football management. Let’s be real, after winning three consecutive Champions League titles, the man earned a vacation. But for football fans, it’s been a long, agonizing wait, filled with endless speculation. “Where will Zizou go next?” has been a hotter topic than a Kylian Mbappé transfer saga.

Now, after what feels like an eternity, Zidane himself has dropped some major hints about his future, confirming that a return to coaching is not just a possibility, but a certainty. The big question is: where?

Zidane’s Dream Job is No Secret

If you’ve been paying any attention at all, you know Zidane has one job circled in red on his vision board: managing the French national team. He’s been about as subtle as a Marco Materazzi headbutt when it comes to his desire to lead Les Bleus. Speaking recently at the Festival dello Sport in Italy, Zidane made his ambitions crystal clear.

“My feeling is that I would like to coach the national team in the future — not necessarily now, but one day, yes,” he said. This isn’t exactly breaking news. For years, he’s been positioned as the heir apparent to the French throne, currently occupied by his former teammate, Didier Deschamps. The problem? Deschamps just keeps winning, or at least coming agonizingly close, and his contract runs until the 2026 World Cup. So, Zidane is basically in a holding pattern, waiting for his dream job to open up. It’s like being the world’s most qualified intern, just waiting for the boss to retire.

So, What About Club Football?

While he waits for Deschamps to ride off into the sunset, you’d think clubs would be lining up around the block with blank checks, right? We’re talking about a manager who made winning the Champions League look as easy as a five-a-side kickabout. Yet, Zidane has been surprisingly picky.

He’s been linked to every major club with a wobbly manager—Manchester United, PSG, you name it. But one destination that always pops up is his old stomping ground, Juventus. The Italian giants hold a special place in his heart. “Juve will always remain in my heart, it gave me a lot from the beginning when I went there,” he admitted.

So, a romantic return to Turin? Not so fast. When asked about the possibility, Zidane basically gave the politest “thanks, but no thanks” you’ve ever heard. “I don’t know. It hasn’t happened before, I’ve made other choices.” Reading between the lines, it sounds a lot like, “I’m holding out for France, and Juventus is a nice plan B, but not the plan.” Sorry, Juve fans. It seems you’re being friend-zoned by one of your greatest-ever players.

For now, Zidane seems content to bide his time. He’s made it clear he will be back on a bench somewhere, sometime. But his heart is set on one thing. The football world watches and waits. Will he get his dream job, or will another club finally make him an offer he can’t refuse? One thing’s for sure: whenever and wherever he returns, it’s going to be box-office.