Zinedine Zidane before comeback: coaching candidate at Fenerbahçe?

Zinedine Zidane before comeback: coaching candidate at Fenerbahçe?

The rumors surrounding Zinedine Zidane and his possible return to the sidelines continue to smolder. How oe24.at reports, the former Real Madrid coach, who won three Champions League titles, has not coached a club for four years. Experts are already speculating that Zidane could take over the French national team after the 2026 World Cup if Didier Deschamps steps down.

There are currently reports of talks between Zidane and the Turkish club Fenerbahçe. The club recently fired José Mourinho and is looking for a new coach. According to the Turkish daily newspaper “Sabah”, Zidane is said to have signaled interest in the vacant position and intensive negotiations are taking place regarding salary and term. However, there are doubts about the credibility of these rumors as Zidane has already rejected offers from top clubs on several occasions.

Fenerbahçe's coaching change

José Mourinho's dismissal from Fenerbahçe, where he most recently worked, came amid unrest within the team. Mourinho, who previously worked at illustrious clubs such as Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid, is seen as an unpopular coach by many players. Volkan Demirel, a legend of the club, said that there is “dissatisfaction and hopelessness” in the team. This could be a reason why Zidane is being considered for the coaching position.

Ahead of an important Europa League game against Manchester United, the mood at Fenerbahçe is tense. While the team sits in fourth place in the Turkish Super Lig, former players such as Mesut Özil show there was conflict during Mourinho's tenure. Özil reported a heated argument with Mourinho in which he used Zidane as a benchmark, highlighting the tensions within the team.

Zidane's future

Despite rumors about a possible return to Fenerbahçe, Zidane has made it clear that his main desire is to become the coach of the French national team. His ambitions could be fulfilled after the 2026 World Cup, which temporarily pushes considerations about his transfer options into the background. In addition, Zidane is also considered the favorite for a new coaching position at Real Madrid if the team's performance does not improve.

However, the situation at Real Madrid remains tense, especially after the 3-0 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain. Many experts consider trust in Zidane to be fragile. Mourinho has already ruled out a return to Real Madrid and said he would be happy if the situation around Zidane eased reports Sport Bild.

At Real Madrid, the search for suitable successors for Zidane continues, with potential candidates such as Xabi Alonso, Raúl and Massimiliano Allegri, while the current situation is not perceived as dramatic despite the defeat against PSG, as the team is still on target in the league.