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The perpetual motion of Zinedine Zidane has always been unfathomable for mere mortals. He was impossible to read on the pitch during his playing days and even now, his decisions off the pitch baffle many.
The whole world, and Florentino Perez in particular, was stunned when Zidane announced his resignation earlier this year.
Although Real Madrid have a nasty habit of frequently changing their coach, often through cruel dismissals, Zidane was not like any other manager. He came into the club when Rafa Benitez was sacked and the club was not in its usual state, as the players were looking to save face after a horrendous start to the season.
But Zidane came in and won three consecutive UEFA Champions League trophies in his three seasons, along with one La Liga title. He made history with the club with his unprecedented success in Europe, and it came as a shock when he called a press conference one day to confirm his resignation.
Real Madrid are undoubtedly still struggling to regain their dominance after the departures of Zidane and their talisman, Cristiano Ronaldo. According to his agent, Zidane will take a one year break but he will return to his managerial career soon enough - presumably with many of the heavyweights of Europe gunning for his signature.
Let us evaluate the three likely clubs that Zidane could manage in the future.
#1 Manchester United
The strongest rumor according to many trusted news outlets is that Zidane will head to Manchester. Manchester United are currently languishing in eighth position in the Premier League with Jose Mourinho at the helm.
Although they managed a victory over Juventus in the Champions League, the fact remains that United's performances are not getting any better. They are 12 points away from league leaders Manchester City, and the same number of points away from relegation zone.
With their only realistic fight in the Premier League being their chase for a top four spot, it is unclear whether Mourinho will stay on as their coach beyond this season. Zidane would be perfectly poised to take up the role if Mourinho does get sacked.
#2 Bayern Munich
Despite Bayern Munich getting a new coach this summer in Niko Kovac, they are struggling to show the same kind of dominance they used to show in the past. At the moment, they are struggling to keep up with Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund.
Bayern Munich are fifth on the table, seven points behind Dortmund. Although they have repeatedly spoken about their faith in their new coach, things can change if Bayern Munich are so far away from their expected goals.
There is no shortage of talent in the current Bayern Munich squad but they have not performed up to their expectations under a new manager. There is no doubt that Kovac's tactics and selection choices have often left the team vulnerable on the field.
Recent reports from German media suggest that Bayern Munich may offer Zidane a coaching role. The Frenchman could easily by tempted by the offer if there is indeed one in place, because of the excellent management and potential of the Bayern squad.
#3 Paris Saint Germain
Paris Saint-Germain are known for their ruthlessness while dealing with their managers, as evident from the sacking of Unai Emery. Emery won the domestic treble in his last season with the club, but since he failed to deliver in Europe he was shown the door.
While Thomas Tuchel's PSG are going strong in the domestic league, aided by the exploits of the superb trio of Neymar, Mbappe and Cavani upfront, they are still struggling in the Champions League.
A justification can be made that they are in the group of death with the likes of Liverpool and Napoli. But looking at the teams on paper, PSG would be expected to meet the challenges of both those teams.
They are currently third in their group, and may go out before the knockouts if they fail to improve on their performances. If that is the case, PSG may well look for a new coach even if they win all the trophies in France.
Zidane, being a keen admirer of France and the French capital, would love to coach a team in his own country - as he has repeatedly admitted.
