Zinedine Zidane - 3 time CL winning manager without a job

It's not that old. It was complicately fabricated during the Tapie and C+ years, and isn't exactly organic. It's quite deeply rooted now, so it doesn't really matter, but it's not quite the Real/Barça, or Utd/Liverpool rivalries that have true historical, social and/or cultural origins.

It doesn't matter in the context of Zidane cos he'll have grown up with that rivalry, at its fiercest (way before QSI), so it's completely unlikely he'll ever manage PSG, but I think it's interesting to properly contextualise the rivalry. The true organic rivalry in France would be St Etienne and Lyon, much moreso than PSG and OM.

Also @redshaw you mentioned distances, but Madrid and Barcelona aren't particularly close geographically.

I mentioned locality and also the historical rivalry of clubs further apart like Barca Madrid as I'm fully aware of where the two cities are.
 
Christian Falk tweeted that Zidane has rejected the Utd job. Doesnt feel ready for PL and wants a break till the summer.

Will have to wait and see if others start reporting the same news.
 
Christian Falk tweeted that Zidane has rejected the Utd job. Doesnt feel ready for PL and wants a break till the summer.

Will have to wait and see if others start reporting the same news.
Christian Falk hasn’t known anything for years. He used to have an inside track into Bayern but now he doesn’t even have that
 
Regarding the first paragraph the two things aren't mutually exclusive, there can be a strong opposition between cities and also think that the OM/PSG rivalry(le classico) was a promotion tool by Tapie. It doesn't mean that unlike what you waid there is no historic opposition between Paris and the province, in fact it's quite amazing that you deny that opposition when talking about this part of France which had linguistic issues with Paris(governments), that applies to Provence, Languedoc- Roussillon, Catalogne, Pays Basque and Haute Garonnes. These issues have diminished not increased.

As for the second paragraph, I would say that you are wrong again. It's not Paris that is the target but the political class. Again I'm from one of the cities that has been the most affected by gentrification and Parisians aren't the target of criticisms, it's mainly local politicians and the government but the city of Paris isn't really a target.

And finally, calm down. I'm pretty sure that I agreed on your point about the rivalry between clubs being fabricated, we disagree on 30 years being old or not but that's not an issue and neither of us argued it. There is no need to lose your cool.
I'm not losing my cool at all, what are you on about :lol:

Disagree with most of your post, but let's leave it at that, unless you'll just respond that I'm "losing my cool" or something (which is really strange). Just a shame that you're giving a misconception of French culture/history in here to other posters.
 
I'm not losing my cool at all, what are you on about :lol:

Disagree with most of your post, but let's leave it at that, unless you'll just respond that I'm "losing my cool" or something (which is really strange). Just a shame that you're giving a misconception of French culture/history in here to other posters.

We should indeed leave it at that but I'm genuinely perpexled because what I said about the antagonism Paris vs province(antiparisianisme) isn't exactly a secret and has been used politically for centuries, it has reduced over the years and cameback with the pandemic but it's not something new. I'm genuinely surprised particularly when you talk about shame and misconception about history and culture since this is a fairly important and interesting historic and pillar of french history and culture following the revolution, centralisation of power and the will to impose a singular culture has created and maintained dislikes and stereotypes.

https://www.huffingtonpost.fr/entry...ers-les-parisiens_fr_5ea6e25dc5b6a30004e57f89
https://www.liberation.fr/politique...-eternel-argument-de-vente-politique_1610191/
https://www.franceculture.fr/emissi...jacobins-girondins-aux-origines-dune-defiance
https://www.lexpress.fr/culture/les-vraies-raisons-de-la-generalisation-du-francais_2157839.html

The last one is somewhat relevant because these stories of humiliations at school were still told by older folks around here when I was a kid. Now of course I could be lying.
 
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Christian Falk hasn’t known anything for years. He used to have an inside track into Bayern but now he doesn’t even have that

He was absolutely insistent that Hudson-odoi was signing for Bayern. The mans an embarrassment and utterly clueless.
 
Bring him in, even if it's till the end of the season I don't care. Give him a blank cheque

He may not have a distinct style of play but he'll have the respect of the players and at least knows how to win at the top level as a manager
 
If we actually bring him in, then I'll be happy. Would be another huge what the feck moment thinking why didn't we just do this 2 months ago.
 
Have always supported him and not Materazzi. Please come and save us from this nightmare.
 
:smirk:Mr CL (manager) + Mr CL (player) for another go?
 
Not a fan of him or anyone else available really but it’s clear a change is needed. I wanted Ten Hag but we need to act now.
 
Never built a squad, had one of the greatest squads in history at his disposal, this guy is probably the most risky coach we could sign. At least Pep had a way of playing, Zidane doesn't even have that.

Bet the Glazers give him a 5 year contact and wait another 3 years just because he's a big name. And so the merry-go-round continues
 
Never built a squad, had one of the greatest squads in history at his disposal, this guy is probably the most risky coach we could sign. At least Pep had a way of playing, Zidane doesn't even have that.

Bet the Glazers give him a 5 year contact and wait another 3 years just because he's a big name. And so the merry-go-round continues
Is this a real opinion based on watching Madrid or based on the echoes of some United fans?
 
Arteta is going to get sacked and then Arsenal might get Zidane over us :(
 
Is this a real opinion based on watching Madrid or based on the echoes of some United fans?
The latter. Zidane’s midfield setup is world class and then you add in he seems an excellent man manager…think he also had some of LL’s highest pressing stats from the second stint as well which no one ever talks about. He might be average, we don’t know, I can guarantee he won’t be worse than this though.
 
This could be an overreaction but my biggest worry with Zidane is that he will convince the board to give Pogba a mega contract and then he will leave in a year and a half and we'd be stuck with the same Pogba we have now for another 5 years.
I also worry he would keep Martial around. Of course he could get them both playing like world beaters again. Then again, LVG never showed any favortism to RVP or Depay but LVG is a different character altogether.
 
My gut feeling is he’d be a terrible choice, I think he was right man at right for Madrid but not convinced he’d be the right fit for us.

He is available though so that pretty much guarantees he’s our number one choice.
 
Is this a real opinion based on watching Madrid or based on the echoes of some United fans?

I watched a lot of Real yes. There was a pretty big difference in his first and second stints, especially post Ronaldo. I mean the difference in our lineups is stark:

Navas
Marcelo - Ramos - Varane - Carvajal
Modric - Casemiro - Kroos
Bale - Benzema - Ronaldo

Vs

De Gea
Shaw - Maguire - Varane - AWB
Bruno - Mctominay - Fred/VDB
Sancho - Ronaldo - Rashford

The team he had was better in every position. The only ones that are about the same are De Gea and Varane, but even then Navas back then was top tier and Varane was younger.

The biggest thing we need is a manager with a proper style of play, someone like Potter who will dominate teams regardless of who they are. And someone that can coach tactics well, and can build a squad. Can Zidane do that? Maybe but we don't know, just like we didn't with Ole. I mean look at his transfers at Real, £200m on Hazard, Jovic and Ferland Mendy ffs https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/zinedine-zidane/spielertransfers/trainer/21284
 
My gut feeling is he’d be a terrible choice, I think he was right man at right for Madrid but not convinced he’d be the right fit for us.

He is available though so that pretty much guarantees he’s our number one choice.
Same, but I said the same about Pep after Barca so what the feck do I know?

All I know is he’s managed one team, who happened to be the best in Europe, and they won the European cup. At least he isn’t an underachiever, but what the hell is he going to do with this shitshow?

I won’t comment on his coaching ability/tactical knowledge because I have no idea. I just hope he has some and isn’t the pure man-manager some say he is.
 
I watched a lot of Real yes. There was a pretty big difference in his first and second stints, especially post Ronaldo. I mean the difference in our lineups is stark:

Navas
Marcelo - Ramos - Varane - Carvajal
Modric - Casemiro - Kroos
Bale - Benzema - Ronaldo

Vs

De Gea
Shaw - Maguire - Varane - AWB
Bruno - Mctominay - Fred/VDB
Sancho - Ronaldo - Rashford

The team he had was better in every position. The only ones that are about the same are De Gea and Varane, but even then Navas back then was top tier and Varane was younger.

The biggest thing we need is a manager with a proper style of play, someone like Potter who will dominate teams regardless of who they are. And someone that can coach tactics well, and can build a squad.

My goodness look at the Madrid midfield compared to ours :lol: :lol:
 
What you're talking about. He was an important part in bulding our most succesful period since we hired Mourinho.

People don't know that he was a consultant for the president and then worked with the DOF, they also don't know that he studied football management. On paper Zidane is one of the few that has an understanding of that side of things. I actually think that he will end up in that role for you at some point.
 
I watched a lot of Real yes. There was a pretty big difference in his first and second stints, especially post Ronaldo. I mean the difference in our lineups is stark:

Navas
Marcelo - Ramos - Varane - Carvajal
Modric - Casemiro - Kroos
Bale - Benzema - Ronaldo

Vs

De Gea
Shaw - Maguire - Varane - AWB
Bruno - Mctominay - Fred/VDB
Sancho - Ronaldo - Rashford

The team he had was better in every position. The only ones that are about the same are De Gea and Varane, but even then Navas back then was top tier and Varane was younger.

The biggest thing we need is a manager with a proper style of play, someone like Potter who will dominate teams regardless of who they are. And someone that can coach tactics well, and can build a squad.
If it’s true that Zidane aims for the France job, then this prospect should only be temporary. I don’t think Zidane long term will be the solution, but to actually establish an identity with a tactician. But even with a good squad, you don’t just fluke your way into 3 CLs in a row. He will also be someone that our veteran players would respect. Potter has potential but it’s hard to say how he’d do in a high pressure environment like United. Zidane has shown his capabilities being at an arguably higher pressure environment at Madrid.
 
Would have mixed feelings with Zidane.

On the one hand it's obviously a massive upgrade on Ole. Three CLs don't win themselves, no matter how good your squad is. Generally he's someone who want to dominate possession and be front-foot. And he doesn't seem to be a manager who'll overstay his welcome.

On the other hand, he isn't the type of manager I'd ideally want. By which I mean that insofar as he's good tactically, he's good tactically in an old-school 90's Serie A influenced sort of way. We'd see formation changes, players being used in different positions, going defensive in certain games, etc. But we won't see the sort of detailed system-orienated coaching modern elite football is swinging towards.

Which doesn't mean he couldn't do well. But I'd like all aspects of the club to modernised and Zidane isn't exactly representative of the general trends in modern football, which is why I'd have preferred a coach of a different ilk.

But the prospect of keeping Ole or hiring Brendan Rodgers has a way of focusing the mind on other options' positives.
 
If it’s true that Zidane aims for the France job, then this prospect should only be temporary. I don’t think Zidane long term will be the solution, but to actually establish an identity with a tactician. But even with a good squad, you don’t just fluke your way into 3 CLs in a row. He will also be someone that our veteran players would respect. Potter has potential but it’s hard to say how he’d do in a high pressure environment like United. Zidane has shown his capabilities being at an arguably higher pressure environment at Madrid.

Imo respectfully you're using the wrong parameters to judge managers. Respect, high pressure aren't the right parameters, just like Ole being a nice guy, liked by the team and gets on with the board aren't the right ones. We should be focusing on:

Style of play
Squad building ability / cutting players that don't work
Coaching ability
Tactical Flexibility
And then man management

Essentially what Liverpool got in Klopp
 
My gut feeling is he’d be a terrible choice, I think he was right man at right for Madrid but not convinced he’d be the right fit for us.

He is available though so that pretty much guarantees he’s our number one choice.

I'm glad that we seem to be favouring a triple champion league and Serie A winner over a guy like Rodgers.
Rodgers would be so us.
 
Imo respectfully you're using the wrong parameters to judge managers. Respect, high pressure aren't the right parameters, just like Ole being a nice guy, liked by the team and gets on with the board aren't the right ones. We should be focusing on:

Style of play
Squad building ability / cutting players that don't work
Coaching ability
Tactical Flexibility
And then man management

Essentially what Liverpool got in Klopp
The parameters are also for now until end of the season. The last three of your points are things that Zidane has. I see him as a temporary solution; not a long term one. Unlikely we get our tactician manager now, but we can try at the end of the season—I much prefer Ten Hag. But we can’t persist with Ole anymore so something must change now.
 
Same, but I said the same about Pep after Barca so what the feck do I know?

All I know is he’s managed one team, who happened to be the best in Europe, and they won the European cup. At least he isn’t an underachiever, but what the hell is he going to do with this shitshow?

I won’t comment on his coaching ability/tactical knowledge because I have no idea. I just hope he has some and isn’t the pure man-manager some say he is.

Well exactly he might be great and his trophy record suggests we’re doing him a huge disservice. Just feels like it would be the wrong fit but if it’s not Zidane I can’t see anyone else we’d appoint permanently for rest of season.
 
People don't know that he was a consultant for the president and then worked with the DOF, they also don't know that he studied football management. On paper Zidane is one of the few that has an understanding of that side of things. I actually think that he will end up in that role for you at some point.

Yup, I think it helped a lot he knew the insides of the club very well and the players as well, he was even key to get some of them. People can have legitimate doubts about him replicating something similar with a different club but he was very much involved in taking Real Madrid back to success. I'm really curious about what he could do in a different club but he has also shown to be someone with a lot of integrity so he won't take the job if he doesn't believe he has realistic chances of succeeding, or that's what I think if it's true he's rejecting the job as Manchester United manager; he doesn't know the club and it seems a complete mess in terms of how it has been ran in recent years. It's very uncertain what he could do but maybe he would be more prone next season or with a little more planning beforehand.