Zinedine Zidane reveals objective of managing France | OneFootball

In a wide-ranging interview at the Trento Sports Festival, Zinédine Zidane outlined his managerial ambitions and sentimental ties to Juventus. Speaking via Gianluca Di Marzio, the former Madrid legend spoke candidly about his coaching future and club allegiances

“I will certainly coach again. My objective is to manage the French national team,” he revealed. “Why Juventus? I don’t know why it didn’t happen. I always have Juventus in my heart because they gave me so much.”

Zidane also reflected on his path to management. He admitted he “didn’t want to be a coach” immediately after retirement, but after trying various roles he enrolled in coaching courses and slowly discovered his identity on the touchline. He credited Marcello Lippi for believing in him when he struggled with the transition, and also noted the influence of Carlo Ancelotti, under whom he once served as assistant.

Speaking about how management grew as an idea for him, the Frenchman said: “When I stopped, my life changed. After three years, I didn’t know what to do; I tried so many things until I signed up for the coaching course.”

On Lippi, Zidane said: “Of all the coaches I’ve had, the one I learned the most from was Lippi : he was very important, because when I arrived in Italy, it was difficult for me at first, but he always believed in me. I first had Ancelotti as my manager, then I became his assistant: he’s a friend, he was important to my career. He was a good coach because he listened to us players.”

He recalled his playing time at Juventus with affection, noting that upon arrival from France he felt the club demanded only one thing: “win, every game, home or away.” He also remembered how Agnelli would call him early in the morning to commend him after good performances — a testament to the club’s intimate connection with its stars. Gianluca Di Marzio

Zidane’s words provide a glimpse of the ambition fueling his next steps: a return to the dugout, with France as his central horizon, and the enduring dream that one day he may lead Juventus from the sideline.

Kaustubh Pandey I GIFN