Zinedine Zidane pours cold water on rumors linking him with PSG job

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By Martin Graham | 20th Jun 2022

Zinedine Zidane has distanced himself from the PSG job this summer, with reports hinting at a potential France job for the Frenchman after the World Cup.

Speaking in an interview with Telefoot, the former Real Madrid boss did declare his intention to remain a manager but remained tight-lipped on where his next destination might be.

The hierarchy at Paris Saint-Germain are on the lookout for a new manager, and the aim remains the same. Despite their decade-long dominance of French football, they have disappointed on the continental front and the closest they came to the UEFA Champions League is reaching the final against Bayern Munich in 2020.

Speaking on his future, Zidane refused to give anything away. “I want to continue, I still have this flame, football is my passion,” he said to Telefoot. “I’m 50 years old, fulfilled, I’m happy, that’s the most important thing.”

Zidane continues with his sabbatical from football

It is now up to a year that Zidane has been out of the game, following his departure from Real Madrid in May last year. That saw him depart the Spanish giants for the second time. He did make his mark though, leading them to a laudable three Champions League triumphs during his first spell and 11 total trophies across both stints.

Since that time, the 49-year-old has been linked with a certain number of high-profile roles, including managing the French national team. Judging by his latest comments, he is set to continue with his sabbatical off football, after categorically ruling himself out of the PSG job. As per latest reports, Nice boss Christophe Galtier is now the leading candidate to be named as the next PSG boss.

As per RMC Sport, Zidane is keen on managing the French national team and is hopeful of securing that job after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Regardless, the same report adds that the Frenchman has not fully ruled out the possibility of being the PSG manager. It comes after rumours had emerged that PSG had agreed a deal with Zidane, amid news that surfaced when he was spotted in the Middle East.

PSG are looking to make wholesale changes across the club, after tying down Kylian Mbappe to a new deal, with Mauricio Pochettino set to be officially sacked in the coming days.

Under Pochettino, PSG might have won the Ligue 1 but the manner in which his side capitulated in the Champions League showed the Argentine still had a lot to learn. It was even more disappointing, given his all-star line-up featuring Neymar and Lionel Messi. Elsewhere, Luis Campos was recently named as PSG’s new football advisor.