Odds Shorten on Zinedine Zidane Potentially Replacing Arne Slot at Liverpool
Zinedine Zidane, who has been without a managerial position since leaving Real Madrid for the second time in 2021, has now become one of the bookmakers’ leading candidates to take over at Liverpool if Arne Slot is dismissed.
Liverpool’s recent form has raised concerns, with the team losing five of their last six games across all competitions—marking their poorest run since Slot’s appointment last summer. Their latest setback came in a 3-2 defeat to Brentford on Saturday, leaving them seventh in the Premier League table.
Despite the slump, there appears to be no immediate panic at Anfield. The club, after all, won the Premier League title last season and began the current campaign strongly, winning their first five league fixtures before this rough patch.
Since acquiring majority ownership in 2010, Fenway Sports Group has only sacked three Liverpool managers—Roy Hodgson, Kenny Dalglish, and Brendan Rodgers. However, the team’s disappointing performances have begun to draw criticism toward Slot from sections of the fanbase.
Betfair has adjusted its odds for the next potential Liverpool manager, revealing some notable changes. Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner is currently the favorite at 3/1, followed by Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola at 4/1. Zidane ranks third at 9/2, with Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann listed at 7/1. A surprise return for Jurgen Klopp, now Red Bull’s global head of football, stands at 9/1.
Zidane’s Thoughts on Liverpool
Zidane has previously spoken admiringly of Liverpool, describing Anfield as the best away ground during an interview on Real Madrid’s official YouTube channel. Ahead of the 2021 Champions League quarter-final—where his Madrid side defeated Liverpool over two legs—he praised Jürgen Klopp’s work in turning the Reds into a “complete team.”
“They are a balanced and unified side,” Zidane told reporters. “Many point to their front three—Salah, Mané, and Firmino—and rightly so, but the entire team functions cohesively. Still, their attack is incredibly dangerous, so we must stay alert.”
However, as with previous speculation linking him to Manchester United, Zidane could face challenges managing in England. The 1998 Ballon d’Or winner told L’Équipe in 2022 that his limited English proficiency could be an obstacle to working in the Premier League.
“When people ask if I’d go to Manchester,” he said, “I understand English but don’t fully master it. Some managers take jobs without knowing the language, but that’s not how I work.”
Zidane’s coaching career so far has been confined to Real Madrid, where he led their Castilla team from 2014 to 2016 before managing the senior side in two separate spells. During his five-year playing career at the Bernabéu, he became fluent in Spanish.
Although Zidane has not taken another role since leaving Madrid in 2021, he continues to be linked with several top jobs—including the potential to succeed Didier Deschamps as France’s manager after the 2026 World Cup.
