Zinedine Zidane has two ‘demands’ if he is to replace Ruben Amorim as manager of Manchester United.
Amorim was sacked as United boss on Monday after 14 months in charge.
He leaves Old Trafford with his now former side in sixth place in the Premier League table.
Following Sunday’s 1-1 draw away at fierce rivals Leeds, Amorim told reporters that he had agreed to be ‘a manager, not a coach’ when he first joined United.
Nonetheless, in their official club statement confirming his exit, United referred to him as head coach – a job title he has held since taking over.
Under-18 coach Darren Fletcher will take temporary charge of the club following Amorim’s departure.
According to BBC Sport, United plan to appoint an interim manager – who will not be Fletcher – for the rest of the season, before recruiting a permanent successor to Amorim in the summer.
Ruben Amorim has been sacked as Man Utd manager (Image: Getty)
Oliver Glasner, Enzo Maresca and Gareth Southgate are among the favourites to replace Amorim on a permanent basis.
All three would be advantageous hires for United and minority co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, with Maresca – who left Chelsea on New Year’s Day – and former England boss Southgate both out of work.
Glasner, meanwhile, is into the final six months of his contract at Crystal Palace and United would not need to pay significant compensation – on top of what they already owe Amorim and have already shelled out to pay off Erik ten Hag – to bring him in.
An alternative option could be Zidane, who has been out of work since leaving Real Madrid for a second time in 2021.
Speaking ahead of a charity match in November, Zidane told reporters that he would be back in management ‘very soon’.
He has been heavily linked with replacing Didier Deschamps as manager of the France national team once Deschamps steps down at the end of the 2026 World Cup.
But a club role could still appeal, with L’Equipe claiming in 2024 that he was uncertain about potentially being considered for the Bayern Munich job as he preferred the prospect of taking over at Old Trafford.
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