Zinedine Zidane 'Will Return to Coaching Soon,' Says Son Enzo

Zinedine Zidane's eldest son, Enzo, has said his father will "return to coaching soon," six months after he stepped down as Real Madrid manager. 

Zidane left the Santiago Bernabeu in May after winning three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles and La Liga with his old club. Enzo is on loan with Spanish second-tier side Rayo Majadahonda from Swiss club Lausanne, and he told AS a return is in the offing for the Real legend (h/t Football Espana):

"My father loves football and he loves to coach, this is clear.

"It seems likely that he will return to coaching soon but right now he is resting, and this is something that he needed to do.

"Managing Madrid was beautiful for him but it was also hugely demanding and involved a mass amount of work, so he is now recovering."

It looks likely the 46-year-old will take up his second top-level post in 2019, having enjoyed an incredibly successful start to management with Real, whom he took over in January 2016 as a replacement for Rafa Benitez.

Zidane signed off his two-and-a-half-year tenure in charge of Los Blancos by becoming the first manager to win three successive Champions League crowns.

Writer Jeremy Smith recognised the Frenchman's class despite his lack of experience on the sidelines, having also recently added a substantial individual accolade to his trophy cabinet:

Matt Lawless of the Mirror cited previous links to Manchester United and Bayern Munich, with respective managers Jose Mourinho and Niko Kovac having come in for criticism this season.

Mourinho's United are seventh in the Premier League and have already lost three times in seven home matches this term, while Kovac and Bayern are fifth in the Bundesliga approaching the winter break.

Either position—at two of Europe's most prestigious outfits—could appeal to Zidane if they became available, though Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge remains a staunch Kovac supporter, per Goal's Ronan Murphy:

It's no surprise Zidane required some respite after almost three years thriving in the cauldron at the Santiago Bernabeu, where he won nine trophies as manager:

With confirmation from Enzo that Zidane appears to at least be considering a return, it could be safe to assume he will have a new role by the beginning of the 2019-20 campaign at the latest.

Until then, incumbent managers may be more on guard knowing that one of the most desired coaches on the managerial market could be available.