Bayern Munich 'contact' Zinedine Zidane over manager job
- Thomas Tuchel will step down as Bayern manager this summer
- Top target Xabi Alonso publicly confirmed he will remain with champions Bayer Leverkusen
- Zidane reportedly offered chance to return to work for first time since 2021
By Tom Gott
Bayern Munich have reached out to Zinedine Zidane to gauge his interest in taking charge of the team next season, according to reports in Spain.
Thomas Tuchel will leave his post this summer after overseeing a downturn in form which saw Bayer Leverkusen roar to the Bundesliga title, with Bayern officials searching for a replacement for a number of weeks.
Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso was the top target before he publicly confirmed his desire to stay with his current side, forcing Bayern to look elsewhere.
According to MARCA, contact has been made with Zidane, who has been out of work since leaving Real Madrid all the way back in 2021. The Frenchman is known to be keen to return to work and was rumoured to be waiting for the France national team job, only for Didier Deschamps to extend his deal with Les Bleus until 2026.
Whether Zidane would be interested in managing Bayern is unclear, but the legendary midfielder has previously confessed that he does not want to work in a country where he cannot fluently speak the language.
Jose Mourinho is named as a potential candidate for Bayern, as are Julian Nagelsmann and Hansi Flick, both of whom have already enjoyed spells in Bavaria.
BILD recently reported that Nagelsmann, who was sacked in favour of Tuchel in March 2023, is now the top target for the job.
Nagelsmann is currently in charge of the German national team but will see his contract expire after this summer's European Championships. An extension has not been ruled out publicly.
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