Liverpool Have Let Two Zinedine Zidane Favourites Leave Club Amid Anfield Links
Liverpool have already lost Zinedine Zidane's favourite players as the football legend is linked with taking Arne Slot's job.
On Sunday afternoon, Liverpool suffered one of their most devastating losses of the season so far as Manchester City beat the Premier League champions 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium.
Despite the Reds picking up a Champions League win over European giants Real Madrid earlier in the week, the loss puts further pressure on Liverpool manager Slot due to their lacklustre form this season.
Should Slot lose his place as Liverpool boss, there are several names that have been linked as his potential replacements, with Real Madrid and France legend Zidane among the favourites.
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However, if Zidane were to return to the dugout to manage Liverpool, he would have to do so without two of his favourite players to wear Red in recent years.
It's now been over four years since Zidane left his position as Real Madrid manager for the second time after going trophyless during the 2020/21 season.
Across his two spells at the Spanish side, the Frenchman led his former club to a total of 11 trophies including three Champions Leagues, two La Liga titles and two FIFA Club World Cups.
Since his departure, Zidane has been strongly linked with replacing Didier Deschamps as manager of the France national team, but bookies have recently posted odds linking the 53-year-old with a move to Anfield.
But if he does take Slot's role in the dugout, he will have to manage the club without two of his favourite players, as he previously praised Liverpool's legendary front three of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah back in April 2021.
Speaking ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League quarterfinal clash against Liverpool, Zidane admitted: "I think they’re a complete team. Some might say their strength is their three forwards because they’re very good, and that’s true, but it’s a very solid team as a whole.
"We know how good their forwards are and how clinical they are, so we need to watch them, but we need to watch everything."
Across their time together at Liverpool, Mane, Firmino and Salah scored a combined 338 goals, with 91 direct goal combinations (goals assisted by one and scored by another among the three).
Of the three, Mane was the first to go, announcing that he would leave the club shortly after their loss to Real Madrid in the 2021–22 Champions League final.
The Senegal international joined Bayern Munich for a reported fee £27.5m with a further £5m based on appearances, and another £2.5m based on individual and team achievements.
Just over a year later, Mane left the German club to join Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr, where he currently plays.
Next to leave was Firmino, as Liverpool announced on 10 March 2023, that the Brazilian would leave the club at the end of the 2022–23 season after he decided not to extend his contract.
Shortly after his departure, Firmino joined Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli, who he made 65 appearances for before joining with Qatar Stars League side Al Sadd, his current team.
Thankfully for Zidane, if he were to take the Liverpool job, he would still have the chance to work with Salah after the Egyptian signed an extension to his contract over the summer, keeping him at the club until at least 2027.
Topics: Liverpool, Zinedine Zidane, Arne Slot, Football, Premier League, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane
Ben McCrum