Belgium: major revelation about Zinédine Zidane

Zizou could have taken charge of Belgium

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Belgium: major revelation about Zinédine Zidane

Live HT UEFA Nations League A

Belgium

France

Appointed France's new head coach a few weeks ago, Zinédine Zidane could have become Belgium's first French manager.

Days after Domenico Tedesco's departure in January 2025, Vincent Mannaert, then the Belgian federation's sporting director, had made Zinédine Zidane his priority to take charge of the Red Devils. Zizou quickly made it known that he was interested in only one job: that of France head coach, which he eventually secured a few months later.

🚨🚨 ZINÉDINE ZIDANE 🇫🇷 A REFUSÉ LA BELGIQUE 🇧🇪 !! ❌

Priorité absolue des Diables Rouges début 2025, il a rapidement repoussé l'approche belge.

Zizou ne voulait que le banc des Bleus, poussant la Belgique à finalement choisir Rudi Garcia.

(@ladh) pic.twitter.com/fvn33CXzmY
— BeFootball (@_BeFootball) September 28, 2026

Also read: Brazil: Carlo Ancelotti in a hurry for the 2030 World Cup

Rudi Garcia was subsequently chosen by Belgium for the 2026 World Cup. Mannaert's interest in Zidane, however, dated back 10 years earlier, when he had been able to observe him during a training camp at Club Brugge in February 2015. At the time, the Frenchman was coach of Real Madrid's reserve team and notably led Rik De Mil's Bruges U19 side, making a strong impression with his human approach, according to DH.

Joshua SOSSOU

Editorfr, en, ar

As a sports fan, and particularly a football fan, I've been putting my writing talent to good use for a number of years now to promote African talent and the continent's football in general. On Foot Africa, enjoy reading each of my lines.