Zinedine Zidane’s huge net worth, glamorous model wife and Man Utd links

Zinedine Zidane is reportedly on Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s radar as a potential replacement for Erik ten Hag at Manchester United, should the club decide to part ways with the Dutchman. The 52-year-old French football legend has been without a managerial role since his departure from Real Madrid in 2021.

Meanwhile, Ten Hag is under immense pressure as he enters his third season at Old Trafford, having failed to restore the club to its former glory. Since succeeding Ralf Rangnick in April 2022, Ten Hag led the team to a third-place finish in the 2022/23 season and an all-time low eighth place in the following season.

Ten Hag’s shaky start to the 2024/25 Premier League season, with two losses in the first three games, has fuelled speculation about his future at the club. Currently, United are languishing in 14th place, six points adrift of league leaders Manchester City. And rumours are rife that the club’s top brass are considering potential replacements, with Zidane being one of the names in the mix, reports the Mirror.

Zidane, who had a stellar playing career with Real Madrid before retiring in 2006, returned to the Bernabeu as manager between 2016 and 2018, and again from 2019 to 2021. During his stints, he steered Los Blancos to two La Liga titles, two Supercopa de Espanas, three Champions League titles, two UEFA Supercups and two FIFA Club World Cups, cementing his reputation as a formidable tactician.

Speculation is rife that French football legend Zidane could be heading to Manchester United if Ten Hag leaves the northwest. Here, we delve into everything you need to know about this sporting sensation – from his staggering net worth to his family life in football.

A colossal fortune

Celebrity Net Worth estimates that ‘Zizou’ has amassed a staggering wealth of $120million (£91.6m), largely due to his illustrious football career which saw him play for Cannes, Bordeaux, Juventus and Real Madrid. His managerial stint with Los Blancos is believed to have further boosted his bank balance, with reports suggesting he was earning an annual salary of 12million Euros (£10.1million).

Off the pitch, Zidane has also partnered with several brands in lucrative endorsement deals, including Adidas, Christian Dior, and Lego. It’s estimated that in 2006 alone, he was pulling in a hefty 8.6million Euros (£7.2m) per year through brand deals.

Married for three decades

Zidane and Veronique Fernandez first crossed paths in 1989 when they were both just 16 years old. Born in Rodez, Veronique attended the Rosella Hightower Dance School in Cannes with dreams of becoming a professional dancer. This is where she first met Zidane. Despite living in strictly gender-segregated accommodation, the football star eventually plucked up the courage to say hello after a few months.

Fast forward five years and the couple tied the knot in a grand ceremony at the Bordeaux town hall. Fernandez sacrificed her dreams of becoming a professional dancer to support her footballer husband’s global career, and they marked their 30th wedding anniversary together in 2024.

Zidane’s Football Progeny

Zidane and his wife are parents to four sons. Their firstborn, Enzo, arrived in March 1995, followed by Luca in May 1998. Theo was born in May 2002, while Elyaz made his entrance the day after Christmas in 2005. Each of the couple’s sons has pursued a promising football career, following in their father’s footsteps.

Enzo climbed through the youth ranks of Juventus, Liceo Frances, San Jose and Real Madrid before signing for the Los Blancos C team in 2014, eventually making it to the first team in 2016. However, he never played a La Liga match for the side, instead moving on to play for Alaves, Lausanne-Sport, Aves, Almeria, Rodez and Fuenlabrada.

At 29, he has been without a club since last summer. Luca spent his entire youth career at Real Madrid before breaking into the B-Team in 2016. His promotion to the first team in 2017 proved slightly more successful than his older brother’s, playing two La Liga matches for the Spanish giants before moving on to Rayo Vallecano, Eibar and Granada, where he currently plies his trade.

Theo’s journey within Real Madrid’s ranks culminated in a stellar stint with the B-Team, where he racked up an impressive 93 league appearances as a midfielder before making a free transfer to Cordoba this summer. His new beginnings at the Segunda Division side have seen him make a mark with four appearances already.

Elyaz, the youngest of the brood, has charted a somewhat different course. Starting out alongside his brothers at Canillas and Real Madrid, the young centre-back switched things up by joining Betis this year. At just 18, Elyaz has already turned out for Betis B ten times, showcasing his burgeoning talent.

Manchester United connections

Intriguingly, Zidane, despite severing ties with Madrid in 2021, remains the subject of speculation regarding high-profile managerial positions spanning prestigious clubs like Bayern Munich and Manchester United, and equally significant international teams from the United States to Brazil and Algeria. Although Zidane’s potential interest in the Manchester United position should Ten Hag depart remains a mystery, largely due to his discreet nature.

Reflecting on the ever-shifting landscape of football management, Zidane shared with L’Equipe in 2022: “Never say never. Especially when you are a coach today. If I go back to a club, it is to win. I say this with all modesty. That’s why I can’t just go anywhere. For other reasons, too. Certain conditions make things more difficult. When someone says to me, ‘Do you want to go to Manchester [United]? ‘ I understand English but I don’t fully master it. I know there are coaches who go to clubs without speaking the language, but I work differently. To win, many elements come into play. It’s a global context.

“I know what I need to win. Of course, I might not always win, but I know that you need to have this, this and this. And I want to do everything on my side to optimise my chances of victory.” Despite the current situation, there is no sign that Ten Hag will be shown the door by Ratcliffe in the near future, with indications suggesting he will be given some time to rectify the club’s issues.

The Reds’ 1-0 triumph over Fulham in their Premier League opener was a promising start for fans, but the cracks began to appear during their 2-1 loss to Brighton at the AMEX Stadium. Most recently, Manchester United suffered a crushing 3-0 defeat to arch-rivals Liverpool at the Theatre of Dreams, and they will be hoping to change their fortunes when they visit St Mary’s to take on newly promoted Southampton this weekend.