As Kim Min-jae continues to battle for a starting spot at Bayern Munich, what if he was tutored by a world-class coach?
Former Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane is on the shortlist of candidates for the job.
Spanish media outlet Marca reported on Thursday (July 14) that Bayern Munich have approached the resting Zidane about taking over next season.
“Munich recently contacted Zidane’s agent and informed him that the club is interested in signing him,” the media outlet reported, adding that “Zidane has always refused to return to coaching.”
“Munich officials have asked Zidane’s agent if he is interested in returning to the managerial ranks. Julian Nagelsmann, Hans-Joachim Flick and Jose Mourinho are among the names being bandied about around Munich as possible future managers. The most recent move for a new manager has been directed at Zidane, who led Real Madrid to three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles.”
The media said Munich’s approach to Zidane was a surprise: “It is surprising that a club that has planned so well, having announced the signing of Pep Guardiola in January (six months before his arrival), is still searching for the ideal candidate. The Bundesliga title is out of reach for Munich, but their Champions League hopes remain alive. “The break could come on April 18 against Arsenal,” the source said, but added that “contact with Zidane has already started” and that talks are ongoing regardless of the outcome of this season.
The German side, however, said that Munich’s contact with Zidane is very early in the process.
Sky Sports Germany reports that “reports that Munich have been in contact with Zidane’s entourage recently are untrue. Zidane was discussed as a potential replacement a few weeks ago when the departure of Thomas Tuchel was discussed. Now, as reported, Munich are focusing on Julian Nagelsmann. Robert De Zerbi also remains on the list.”
However, Marca went a step further and reported that “Munich want Miguel Gutierrez as a replacement for Alfonso Davies, who is currently on the move. He is a player that Zidane has recruited,” adding a nuanced story that suggested Zidane would be a good fit for Munich.
“It was Zidane who recognized Gutierrez when he was in the Real Madrid youth team. Carlo Ancelotti didn’t want to use him at the time, but Zidane thought highly of him.”
Gutierrez moved to Girona in the summer of 토토 2022 and has been one of the key members of Girona’s breakthrough this season.
Zidane stepped down as Real Madrid manager at the end of the summer of 2021. He has since taken a three-year break.
Zidane has only ever been in charge of Real Madrid. He took over from Carlo Ancelotti in January 2016 and reigned supreme in Europe, winning one La Liga title and three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles before stepping down in the summer of 2018.
The three consecutive Champions League titles is a historic achievement for Real, coming half a century after Real Madrid won five in a row in the 1950s. In Europe as a whole, it was the first time in 40 years since Ajax won three in a row in the early 1970s.
Zidane was reappointed after the failure of his successor, Santiago Solari, and led the club to the La Liga title in the 2019-2020 season before stepping down again in the summer of 2021.
For a time, Zidane appeared to be eager to take charge of France’s national soccer team, but those hopes were dashed when Didier Deschamps won the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, followed by a runner-up finish at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he orchestrated an epic final and was re-signed by the French Football Association.
Zidane has since been linked to the likes of Juventus and PSG, but nothing concrete has come of it. However, a new possibility has arisen with Munich, who have asked Thomas Tuchel to step down at the end of the season.
Zidane’s appointment would be a good thing for Kim, who is currently battling for a starting role at Munich. A team at the top of Europe’s game like Munich needs a center back who can play aggressive defense like Kim Min-jae. However, this season, Thomas Tuchel has increasingly favored dropping back, defensive-minded center backs like Eric Dier due to a lack of tactics.
Zidane is a world-class center back who currently plays for Manchester United, and he was the one who brought out Raphael Varane, who was discovered by Jose Mourinho, and brought out the best in him. For Kim, it’s a chance to really prove himself under a world-class soccer star.