Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS identify Zinedine Zidane as their ‘dream’ manager for Manchester United
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS will do everything in their power to return Manchester United to the top of English and European football and have picked out Zinedine Zidane as their ‘dream’ manager.
Last week, British billionaire Ratcliffe officially completed his 27.7 per cent takeover of the club in a £1.3billion deal, putting an end to months of speculation.
Ratcliffe has wasted little time in outlining his lofty ambitions for United, revealing his plan to knock the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool off their perch in one of his first interviews – echoing Sir Alex Ferguson’s famous battlecry from 2002.
The 71-year-old has also made clear his preference to build a new stadium on the site of Old Trafford and is gearing up for a major overhaul of the current playing squad, with a flurry of comings and goings expected in the summer transfer window.
Crucially, though, Ratcliffe has not yet given his official backing to Ten Hag, allowing rumours to swirl over the Dutchman’s future, with the Red Devils languishing in sixth place in the Premier League after being stunned at home to Fulham last weekend.
According to French publication Foot Mercato, Ratcliffe will ‘do everything’ to return United to their former glory and would be prepared to show Ten Hag the exit door to make that happen – and Zidane has been identified as club’s ‘dream’ head coach by INEOS.
Jean-Claude Blanc, the CEO of INEOS Sport, has long been an admirer of Zidane and attempted to recruit the legendary ex-Real Madrid boss for Paris Saint-Germain during his time with the Ligue 1 champions.
Zidane, who won three Champions League titles on the trot in charge of Madrid, has been out of a job since bringing an end to his second spell at the Bernabeu back in 2021.
However, the iconic 1998 World Cup winner, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers in the history of the game, announced that he would be keen to return to management at a film premiere this week.
Asked whether he has plans to return to coaching, Zidane replied: ‘Why not? Anything can happen.
‘But at the moment I’m doing something else. I am sure that I will return to the bench, I would like to coach again.’
Meanwhile, at his press conference this afternoon, Ten Hag stressed that he was focussed on ‘today’ while working with INEOS on the ‘longer term’, despite growing uncertainty over his future at Theatre of Dreams.
‘I have to look at today and we have to work on the team, on the team’s development and the progress and, of course, to win every game,’ the United manager said ahead of the side’s FA Cup fifth round clash with Nottingham Forest.
‘That is also what we are doing. So, a lot of effort is in what is today but yeah, we also already look forward to longer term.’
Yopbceiops
407
Zidane is not a top manager, though he's won titles with an already built team, he never developed any player. and he's been afraid of challenges that's why he's been out for so long.
Crissi
375
I’ll probably get hate for this but zidane isn’t going to go to a team under construction, he wants an already winning project
perebi
332
it will not happen, because this man hate to lose match and while man united love to lose match so can't work together
gsikaputa
325
I remember when Cech made a save, and Peter Drury said, Peter Denise Jesus again 😂😂😂
meerahglam
174
Great Player Great Manager
Davichi
122
I see some people kicking against ZZ because they don't understand what he did at Madrid and why he left on both occasions. If he agrees to come, he will be fantastic for United almost as Pep has been for City.
muwbdlop
111
This will be a huge mistake on man utd part.. Zidane isn't one for a long term project. and his success at Madrid was 80% reliant on Ronaldo... I doubt there's someone like Ronaldo at man utd.. After 2 years, man utd will go back to looking for another manager.. it's a big NO for me if you ask
Davichi
8
Zidane is not a top manager, though he's won titles with an already built team, he never developed any player. and he's been afraid of challenges that's why he's been out for so long.
You have no idea of what you're saying. Before Zidane and after him, which Madrid coach won the UCL triple times and dominated that top Barca team the way his team did? I'm a Barca fan and I remember Pique even confessed it that for the first time he felt inferior to Madrid. Mind you, even without Ronaldo on the field it was the same thing. Also for you to say he's afraid is an insult. Some of you kids think that people don't have the right to take their own decisions but they have to do what the public expects. Even if he decides not to coach again, you have no right to say such trash about someone who has proven his worth.
Davichi
8
bro, nothing zidane did at Madrid, its the squad he had who did everything for him,! and he can't be no where near pep abilities! zidane is another pochettino!
That's where you get it wrong. Mourinho and Ancelotti coached the same squad and what did they achieve compared to what Zidane achieved? Zidane never bought any high profile player during his time... also go and find out how they dominated Barca without Ronaldo with ZZ