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By Martin Graham | 9th Jan 2023
The vacant Brazil job could be perfect for Zinedine Zidane, who is currently jobless. The French legend was tipped to take over from Didier Deschamps after the World Cup but has now signed a new deal.
The World Cup in Qatar last year saw a rash of coach resignations. Following the failure to reach their respective targets, the coaches fell on their swords or were shown the door out.
It left several vacancies, with the various FAs looking to fill the gaps. Some countries looking to hire new managers include Brazil, Belgium, Greece, Netherlands, Ghana, Mexico, South Korea and Spain.
Of particular interest was France. Many posited that they would hire a new manager irrespective of the outcome of the World Cup. France went all the way to the final, where they lost. Rather than resign or get fired, the hierarchy seems pleased with the work of Deschamps and offered him a new contract till 2026.
The new contract leaves Zinedine Zidane in limbo, as he was on the sidelines to take over from Deschamps. The former Real Madrid manager even turned down offers for a coaching role to remain available when the Les Bleus job is open. With France reposing faith in Deschamps, some suggest that the Brazilian job could be perfect for him.
Zidane loses the chance to coach France
There were several expectations that the next manager of Les Bleus would be Zinedine Zidane. The topic was talked about like an open secret, with the media suggesting there was an agreement in place to replace Didier Deschamps with the former Real Madrid manager after the World Cup. Things have not panned out as expected.
France chose to stick with Deschamps, who has won several laurels as a player and manager for Les Bleus. While waiting on the wings for the Les Bleus offer to arrive, the Franch FA tidied a deal that would keep the former Juventus midfielder in the job till 2026.
Perhaps Zidane might have been given the job if Deschamps had walked away from the team after the loss in the World Cup final and failed to reach an agreement with the French Football Federation. Now the former Real Madrid boss would have to wait for the chance to coach his country, which begs the question of where he would end up in the interim.
The vacant Brazilian job could be apt for Zidane
While Zidane, who rejected the chance to coach Manchester United, is waiting on the wings for the France role, he could still coach a top-level national team. The truth is, the opportunity to coach Les Bleus might never come, so he might as well move on and hope for the best.
Former Brazil playmaker Juninho Pernambucano believes coaching the Brazil national team could be perfect for the 50-year-old. Juninho, who also played professionally in France, believes the Ballon d’Or winner could do a solid job with the Selecao. However, Zidane has to buck a Brazilian tradition to land the job.
It is a long-standing tradition for only Brazilians to be the head coach of the Selecao. However, Juninho believes Zidane should get the role. The ex-Lyon player does understand the intricacies of the politics behind the position.
Zidane expects to be back in coaching soon and will not be short of offers. He could still take over from Tite, who stepped down after Brazil crashed out of the World Cup in the quarter-final.
Martin Graham is an MFF sports writer
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