The French specialist remains unemployed for more than three years after leaving Real Madrid
Ex-mentor Real Madrid Zinedine Zidane called one of the candidates for replacement Roberto Mancini as head coach of the national team Saudi Arabia.
Also among the probable successors of the Italian specialist are the Argentinean Ramon Diaz (the current coach of Corinthians) and the Frenchman Hervé Renard, who previously worked with the Saudi national team and led it to the 2022 World Cup.
Mancini’s days at the helm of the Green Falcons are reportedly numbered. Under his leadership, the Saudi Arabian national team had an unsuccessful start in the third round of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. In addition, the Italian got into a scandal by first insulting a fan and then sharply answering a Japanese journalist’s question about Roberto’s salary.
According to available information, the state television of the Asian country has already reported that the federation is negotiating to terminate the contract with Mancini.
Zidane began his coaching career in the structure of Real Madrid. From 2016 to 2021 (with a break) he was the head coach of Blancos – 11 trophies in four and a half years, including three consecutive victories in the Champions League. The Frenchman left his position as Real Madrid head coach in June 2021 and has been unemployed ever since.
In October 2022, Zidane announced his readiness to return to coaching. In December of the same year, it was reported that Zidane could replace Deschamps after the end of the 2022 World Cup. However, the current coach Le Blais, who took a break to think after the defeat from Argentina in the World Cup final, still remained at the helm of the national team, extending his contract with the French Football Federation.
At one time, Zidane was unsuccessfully wooed by Manchester United, Bayern, PSG, as well as the national teams of Germany and Algeria. Zidane has repeatedly stated that his priority among national teams is France.
Source: Sportarena
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