Zidane rejects Fenerbahce offer as Turkish club seeks Mourinho’s replacement
After parting ways with José Mourinho, Fenerbahce is still looking for a new coach. Zinedine Zidane was contacted but has turned down the Turkish club’s proposal.
Zidane waits for the French national team
According to Mundo Deportivo, Zidane made it clear he does not intend to manage a club at this time. His sole ambition is to take charge of the French national team, a role he is expected to assume after Didier Deschamps steps down, likely following the 2026 World Cup.
Reports suggest Zidane already has an agreement with the French Football Federation, with a contract set to begin on a fixed date but without a time limit on his tenure.
Zidane’s coaching career so far
The 1998 World Cup winner has only managed Real Madrid in his coaching career. Between 2015 and 2021, he won:
- 3 Champions League titles
- 2 La Liga titles
- 2 FIFA Club World Cups
- 2 Spanish Super Cups
Since leaving Madrid in 2021, Zidane has rejected several offers, including a potential return to the Santiago Bernabéu after Carlo Ancelotti departed for Brazil. Real instead opted for Xabi Alonso.
Mourinho’s dismissal at Fenerbahce
Fenerbahce president Ali Koç explained that Mourinho’s dismissal was not just about the Champions League playoff elimination against Benfica, but the team’s poor performance overall.
“Ending a relationship with someone who is, above all, a friend is very difficult. Being eliminated by Benfica wasn’t the problem in itself, but the way we were eliminated was unacceptable,” Koç told Fanatik.
Now, the Turkish club is left searching for a high-profile replacement to steady the team early in the season.
