‘I could easily imagine Zinedine Zidane’ – Former Bayern star tips French legend to replace Thomas Tuchel and become Harry Kane’s next manager
The Bundesliga’s biggest teams revealed last month that Tuchel would be leaving his position as head coach at the end of the campaign, creating a wide space for new managers. Conversely, Zidane has not had a job since 2021, when his second term as Real Madrid’s manager came to an end. The Frenchman has been tipped by former Bayern player Mario Basler to succeed Tuchel. He won three straight Champions League medals during his first stint at Madrid.
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THOUGH BASLER
The 55-year-old said to the German publication Ran: “The coaching market doesn’t have a lot of options. Additionally, I think that Xabi Alonso will either remain at Leverkusen or join another team, either Liverpool or Madrid. Perhaps he will remain at Leverkusen for an additional year, and after Carlo Ancelotti departs, he will move to Madrid. Zinedine Zidane is the only person I could picture with ease.”
Basler compares Bayern’s treatment of Tuchel to that of Julian Nagelsmann last year and believes the team shouldn’t have let him go so quickly. “I don’t understand Bayern’s personnel decision,” he continued. Like with Julian Nagelsmann in the past, Bayern has once again made snap judgements. That, too, was incredibly puzzling to me. I’m eager to see if Bayern Munich would have the guts to admit that they made a decision too soon if that scenario—Bayern winning the Champions League—come to pass. We wish to overturn the ruling. Perhaps they’ll get together with Tuchel once again to discuss whether they can’t go on for a year or two.”
Xabi Leverkusen Alonso Getty Images 03102024 (C)
THE LARGER IMAGE
After defeating Lazio in the round of 16, Bayern, as Basler mentions, have a chance to win the Champions League, a competition Tuchel has already won with Chelsea. Leverkusen is currently ten points adrift in the Bundesliga due to Alonso’s misadventures, while the Spanish coach has been linked to a summer transfer. Potential bidders include Bayern, who are expected to compete against Real Madrid in the upcoming summer or Liverpool in the current one.
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In addition to Zidane and Alonso, other names connected to the Bayern position are Jose Mourinho and former Die Roten manager Hansi Flick. Before Tuchel’s situation became public earlier this season, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the former manager of Manchester United, was heavily discussed.
