In the review of the United States Men’s National Team, the US Federation of Societies appears to be looking at all potential options. According to a report from French outlet L’Equipe, US Soccer has approached former Real Madrid head coach and legend Zinedine Zidane has been reading to express his interest in the vacant USMNT head coaching job.
The USMNT is currently without a head coach after Gregg Berhalter’s contract expired on December 31, and while Berhalter is still a candidate to remain head coach, it looks like US player director Earnie Stewart is starting to reach out to candidates. And there may not be a better option available than Zidane, whose only senior coaching job was Real Madrid from 2016-2018 and 2019-2021. During his tenure as coach of Real Madrid, he won 3 UEFA Champions Leagues, 2 LaLiga titles, 2 Spanish Supercups, 2 UEFA Super Cups, and 2 FIFA Club World Cups.
Zidane has long been rumored to succeed former France teammate Didier Deschamps as France’s national coach. However, with Deschamps renewing his contract through the 2026 World Cup, other opportunities presented themselves to Zidane.
Online reports claimed that Zidane had offered the head coach jobs in the United States, Brazil, and Portugal, with Zidane rejecting those offers. However, according to L’Equipe, it seems that the transaction made by the US company was at least introductory and did not include any formal offer. From L’Equipe (translated into Latin);
Zidane can therefore understand that his former golden leader of the 1998-2000 generation will stick to the tricolor seat. DD’s new long-term contract until July 2026 in any case hinders his Blues horizon. But it won’t be too late then to realize his dream as a 54-year-old coach. ZZ is four years younger than DD. Ballon d’Or 98 years of age in the council with eleven titles preceded by Madrid. He will not let go of any impulse.
After this World Cup, the proposals of footmen or messengers from all over the world still flocked to him or his historical advisor Alain Migliaccio. From Brazil, Portugal and more recently from the United States of America. The Seleçao is trying a challenge now that the Blues’ door is closed for the time being. Zizou is much loved and respected in this country, despite two goals in the finals against teammates Ronaldo in 1998 (3-0) or a technical festival in the quarters in 2006 (1-0). But there is very little chance that it will cross the Atlantic.
The article states that Zidane does not speak English or Portuguese, and only wants to take a job where he can speak fluent French or Spanish. The only national team job Zidane wants now is the France job, and he wants to wait until that job opens up. It’s possible that he could take a job at the club in the meantime, but he’s at a point where he feels comfortable waiting for the job he really wants.
That won’t be the USMNT job, but US Soccer’s deal with Zidane seems to indicate the federation’s desire to think big when it comes to the next head coach of the United States Men’s National Team. US soccer may have arrived, but some of the discussions they had with Zidane and his management team are unlikely to progress to a formal situation.
However, since Zidane has at least been contacted about the USMNT job, it is understood that US Soccer would like to consider some of the best coaches on the planet, and perhaps checkbook to hire them. That will hopefully give USMNT fans hope that some of the big names in coaching have been contacted and interviewed in the hiring process.
