Bayern Munich must overcome one club to secure Zinedine Zidane as new manager

Bayern Munich will have to overcome the pull of one huge club if they are to make Zinedine Zidane their new manager.

German giants Bayern Munich have been on the hunt for a new manager for a couple of months now, after Thomas Tuchel announced that he will step down from his position at the end of the season.

Bayern have underwhelmed during Tuchel's only full campaign in charge, and could do little to stop Bayer Leverkusen from ending their Bundesliga domination.

That said, Tuchel could go out on a high by guiding the Bavarian club to Champions League glory.

Bayern identified Xabi Alonso and Julian Nagelsmann as candidates to replace Tuchel, but approached for both came to nothing.

Alonso pledged his future to newly crowned Bundesliga champions Leverkusen, and Nagelsmann - who Bayern sacked last year - has agreed to stay on as German national team coach until the 2026 World Cup.

With those two out of the running, an unexpected candidate emerged.

Reports in Spain on Friday claimed that Zinedine Zidane is close to being appointed Tuchel's successor, although German media outlets later claimed that such claims were premature.

If Bayern's interest in Zidane is genuine, then they may have to battle Manchester United for him.

Zidane has been without a role since 2021 (Image: Getty)

According to L'Equipe, Zidane is keeping a close eye on the managerial situation at Old Trafford, as he would prefer to join United over Bayern.

Erik ten Hag's position as United boss is uncertain, with United set to miss out on Champions League qualification after a disappointing campaign.

United's new minority owner Ineos - headed by British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe - has not yet made a decision on the future of the Dutch coach.

Zidane has been out of work since his second spell as Real Madrid manager came to an end in 2021. Over two spells in the Bernabeu dugout, the former Madrid star won the Champions League three times and La Liga twice.

In an odd twist of fate, L'Equipe has also reported that Bayern are considering former United interim boss Ralf Rangnick as an alternative hire to Zidane.

While Bayern Munich are clearly in better shape than United right now, the Premier League club has an enduring attraction that is hard for managers to ignore.

Topics: Manchester United, Zinedine Zidane, Bayern Munich, Erik Ten Hag, Champions League, Thomas Tuchel, Bundesliga

Alex Brotherton

Alex Brotherton is a Sports Trends Writer at SPORTbible. He has previously worked with publications including the Manchester Evening News, GOAL and BBC Sport. He is a football fanatic, but also dabbles in tennis and American football. He enjoys running, cooking and watching non-league football.

@alex_brotherton