Bookmakers Cut Odds on Zinedine Zidane Becoming Next Liverpool Manager
Zinedine Zidane has emerged as one of the bookmakers’ top contenders to replace Arne Slot should Liverpool decide to make a managerial change.
The Reds are enduring a dismal spell, having lost five of their last six games across all competitions — their worst run since Slot took charge last summer. Saturday’s 3-2 defeat to Brentford left them sitting seventh in the Premier League.
Despite the slump, there’s said to be no major alarm within Anfield, as Liverpool are the reigning Premier League champions and had previously won all five of their league fixtures before this poor run.
Since Fenway Sports Group took control of the club in 2010, they have dismissed only three managers: Roy Hodgson, Kenny Dalglish, and Brendan Rodgers. Still, the team’s recent struggles have increased pressure on Slot from parts of the fanbase.
According to Betfair’s latest odds, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner is currently the frontrunner at 3/1 to succeed Slot, followed by Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola at 4/1. Zidane ranks third at 9/2, while Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann is listed at 7/1. A sensational return for former boss Jürgen Klopp, now Red Bull’s global head of football, is priced at 9/1.
Zidane’s view on Liverpool
Zidane has previously spoken highly of Liverpool, calling Anfield the best away ground he has ever experienced. Before Real Madrid’s Champions League clash with the Reds in 2021, the French legend praised Jürgen Klopp’s work, describing Liverpool as a “complete team.”
“They’re a complete team,” Zidane said at the time. “Everyone talks about their front three — Salah, Mané, and Firmino — and they’re excellent. But the entire team is strong and united. We’ll have to be very alert.”
However, like during his past links to Manchester United, there are potential barriers to Zidane taking charge in England. In a 2022 interview with L’Équipe, he admitted his limited command of English could make managing in the Premier League difficult.
“I understand English, but I don’t fully master it,” he said. “Some coaches go to clubs without speaking the language, but I work differently.”
Zidane’s only managerial experience has come at Real Madrid, where he led the Castilla team between 2014 and 2016 before managing the senior side in two spells, winning multiple Champions League titles. Having played and coached for years in Spain, he speaks fluent Spanish.
Since leaving Real in 2021, Zidane has remained without a club but continues to be strongly linked with the France national team job, possibly taking over from Didier Deschamps after the 2026 World Cup.
