The former Real Madrid coach, Zinédine Zidane, finds himself in an unprecedented deadlock. According to Marca this Monday, the French legend, who only wants the team from the Spanish capital, is reportedly blocked by Carlo Ancelotti.
If we are to count the greatest coaches in the history of Real Madrid, Zinédine Zidane is undoubtedly among them. A former star of the Madrid team (2001-2006, 227 matches for 49 goals), the man, now 52 years old, has achieved extraordinary feats in his coaching career. In four seasons as Real Madrid’s coach, Zidane won everything. He left at the end of the 2021 season to make way for his mentor, Carlo Ancelotti, whom he had assisted between 2013 and 2014. The 1998 Ballon d’Or winner has yet to return to coaching.
Zidane’s ambitions blocked by Ancelotti’s presence
Despite numerous offers from prestigious clubs, Zidane has categorically rejected all of them. While questions have arisen about the choices of the former French star, the Madrid daily Marca sheds some light on the situation. According to the revelations, Zizou only wants one club: Real Madrid, or one country: France. Likely mindful of his reputation, the man who is the first coach in football history to win three Champions League titles in his first three years as a coach, Zidane is not interested in unreliable projects.
However, the situation is quite complicated at present. In fact, while there is no indication that he will replace Didier Deschamps anytime soon as the head coach of the French national team, Zidane sees Carlo Ancelotti’s success preventing him from taking back the helm at Real Madrid. Aware that the Italian coach will not be dismissed due to his current status, the French coach is biding his time and waiting for the right moment.
Zidane’s technical staff in disarray
Given the very slim chances of Zidane returning to manage the Madrid team, his technical staff is dissolving. Realising that Carlo Ancelotti is unlikely to leave his post anytime soon, Zidane’s assistants are taking their futures into their own hands.
According to reports, David Bettoni, Zidane’s assistant, has taken charge of the Club Africain in Tunisia, where he has already managed 11 matches. To help him with his tasks, Bettoni enlisted Zidane’s fitness coach, Professor Grégory Dupont. Considered the true architect of the Madrid team during the coronavirus period, with an exceptional training plan to help the players stay fit during the lockdown, Dupont has decided not to wait for Zidane, given the uncertainty around his future.
Among all of Zidane’s assistants, Hamidou Msaidie is the most striking example, as he has now put football aside to create a personal training platform. No longer willing to wait, he has turned his back on football and now runs his company called Slowmotions. Finally, Zidane’s goalkeeper coach, Roberto Vázquez, has decided to focus on managing Spain’s under-19 team.
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