PARIS: Zinedine Zidane says he still has the “flame” to continue his managerial career, despite a year out of the game after his departure from Real Madrid.
The Frenchman departed Santiago Bernabeu for a second time at the end of the 2020-21 season, having guided the club to a hat-trick of Champions League triumphs during his first term in charge and won 11trophies in all during his time there.
Zidane has since been linked with a number of jobs, including in his home country where he was touted as the front runner to succeed Mauricio Pochettino at Paris Saint-Germain, as well as Didier Deschamps’ possible successor as France head coach beyond Qatar 2022.
With Nice boss Christoph Galtier now in the driving seat to take the reins at Parc des Princes, Zidane’s time in the wilderness looks set to continue.
But the former World Cup winner, who turns 50 this month, hopes to return to the dugout without having to leap straight into any job that becomes available.
“I want to continue,” he said. “I still have this flame.Football is my passion.
“But I am almost 50 years old and fulfilled. I am happy, and that’s the most important thing.”
Zidane also addressed his infamous World Cup final headbutt on Marco Materazzi at Germany 2006, which saw him sent off for France as they went on to lose to Italy on penalties.
“I’m not proud of what I’ve done, but it’s part of my journey,” he reflected. “Even in a person’s life, not everything is done perfectly.” — dpa
