'I could easily imagine Zinedine Zidane' - Former Bayern star tips French legend to replace Thomas Tuchel and become Harry Kane's next manager

Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane has been tipped to replace Thomas Tuchel at Bayern Munich when the German departs in the summer.

Posted Tuesday, March 12, 2024 by Goal.com

WHAT HAPPENED?
The Bundesliga giants announced last month that Tuchel would be stepping down from his role as head coach at the end of the season, opening the door to a whole host of managerial candidates. Zidane, meanwhile, has been out of work since his second stint as Real boss came to an end in 2021. The Frenchman, who won three successive Champions League trophies in his first spell in Madrid, has been touted to replace Tuchel by former Bayern star Mario Basler.

WHAT BASLER SAID
The 55-year-old told German outlet Ran: "There aren't too many alternatives on the coaching market. I also believe that Xabi Alonso will stay at Leverkusen or go to another club - perhaps Madrid or Liverpool. Maybe he'll stay at Leverkusen for another year and then go to Madrid when Carlo Ancelotti retires. The only person I could easily imagine would be Zinedine Zidane."

However, Basler feels that Bayern shouldn't have been so hasty with letting Tuchel go, drawing parallels with the handling of Julian Nagelsmann last year. He added: "I don't understand Bayern's personnel decision. Bayern have once again made quick decisions, just like they did with Julian Nagelsmann back in the day. That was also very incomprehensible to me. If that scenario [Bayern winning the Champions League] materialises, I would be curious to see whether Bayern Munich would have the character to say: 'We made a decision too early. We want to reverse the decision'. Maybe they'll sit down with Tuchel again and see if they might not continue for another year or two."

THE BIGGER PICTURE
As Basler references, Bayern are in with a shot at Champions League glory - a competition Tuchel has already won once with Chelsea - after overcoming Lazio in the last-16. However, Leverkusen's escapades under Alonso mean they are ten points behind in the Bundesliga, as those performances have seen the Spanish coach linked with a move away in the summer. Bayern are among those potential suitors, as they look set to rival Liverpool this summer or Real Madrid the next.

DID YOU KNOW?
Other names linked with the Bayern job, apart from Zidane and Alonso, include Jose Mourinho and former Die Roten boss Hansi Flick. Ex-Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was incredibly mooted earlier this season, before Tuchel's fate was revealed.

WHAT NEXT FOR BAYERN?
Tuchel followed up that Champions League win on Tuesday with a statement 8-1 thrashing of Mainz on Saturday. Bayern will hope to build on that victory and continue the chase on Leverkusen when they face bottom-placed Darmstadt on Saturday.