Zinedine Zidane has emerged as a surprise contender to take over at Liverpool amid growing uncertainty surrounding Arne Slot’s position. The Frenchman, who has been out of management since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, is now among the bookmakers’ leading candidates should Liverpool decide to make a change.
Liverpool’s recent run of poor form has sparked debate about the team’s direction. The Reds have lost five of their last six matches across all competitions—marking their worst spell since Slot’s arrival last summer. Their latest defeat, a 3–2 loss to Brentford, left them sitting seventh in the Premier League table.
Despite this slump, there is no immediate sense of crisis at Anfield. The club captured the Premier League title just last season and began the current campaign in excellent form, winning their opening five league fixtures before the downturn.
Since Fenway Sports Group took majority control of Liverpool in 2010, the ownership has shown patience with its managers, dismissing only three—Roy Hodgson, Kenny Dalglish, and Brendan Rodgers. However, recent performances have led to mounting criticism of Slot from some sections of the fanbase.
Bookmakers’ Latest Odds
Betfair has revealed significant shifts in the odds for Liverpool’s next potential manager. Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner currently leads the betting at 3/1, followed by Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola at 4/1. Zidane sits close behind at 9/2, while Germany’s national coach Julian Nagelsmann is priced at 7/1. Interestingly, a sensational return for former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp—now Red Bull’s global head of football—is listed at 9/1.
Zidane’s View of Liverpool
Zidane has spoken highly of Liverpool in the past, praising both the club and its home ground, Anfield. In a 2021 interview on Real Madrid’s official YouTube channel ahead of their Champions League quarter-final clash, he described Anfield as the best away stadium and lauded Jürgen Klopp’s work in building a complete, balanced side.
“They are a unified team,” Zidane said at the time. “Everyone focuses on their front three—Salah, Mané, and Firmino—but the strength of Liverpool is in how the entire team operates together. Their attack is always dangerous, and we had to be fully focused against them.”
Potential Obstacles to an English Move
Despite his managerial success, Zidane has previously expressed reservations about coaching in the Premier League. In a 2022 interview with L’Équipe, he admitted that his limited command of English could make managing in England a challenge.
“When people ask if I’d go to Manchester,” Zidane explained, “I understand English but don’t fully master it. Some coaches take jobs without speaking the language, but that’s not how I work.”
Zidane’s coaching career has so far been exclusively tied to Real Madrid, where he managed both the club’s Castilla side and the senior team in two separate spells. During his tenure, he guided Madrid to multiple Champions League titles and became fluent in Spanish.
Although he has not returned to management since 2021, Zidane continues to be linked with high-profile roles, including the possibility of succeeding Didier Deschamps as France’s national team manager after the 2026 World Cup
