Zinedine Zidane tipped for Man Utd job as Graham Potter warned ‘the boys would eat you alive’

9 months ago 71

DWIGHT YORKE has backed Zinedine Zidane to be Manchester United’s new boss – but he says the squad would “eat Graham Potter alive” if he got the job.

The 52-year-old Trinidadian and Tobagonian achieved legendary status at Manchester United after joining them from Aston Villa in 1998.

Zinedine Zidane has been tipped as the ‘best fit’ to take over Man Utd[/caption]

A Red Devils legend has delivered a stern warning to Graham Potter[/caption]

The ex-striker played a huge role in their 1999 Treble-winning side under Sir Alex Ferguson and added another two league titles to his collection.

Yorke headed to Blackburn in 2002 then joined Birmingham City and Sydney FC in Australia but returned to England to finish his playing days at Sunderland.

Yorke has since tried his hand at management after heading back Down Under in July 2022 to take charge of Macarthur FC.

He managed to lead them to the Australian Cup Final but left the club in January 2023 and recently revealed how he might have to buy a club in order to land himself a managerial job.

However, this week he has been speaking with Ladbrokes regarding another manager – Erik ten Hag at his old club United.

There has been huge speculation over the Dutchman’s future ever since Ineos chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe purchased 27.7 per cent of the club in a deal worth £1.03billion.

And Yorke believes that unless Ten Hag delivers the FA Cup, where United face Liverpool next on Sunday, then his job could be under serious threat.

He said: “If you were to weigh things up this season, you’ve got to say that if we don’t win the FA Cup, then this has been a hugely disappointing season.

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“Considering everything else that’s happened, the current league position and the failings in Europe, you’d have to think there would be some question marks around the manager in the summer.”

Discussing who could come in and replace him, Yorke believes that legendary French midfield maestro that led Real Madrid to three Champions League victories could be the best option.

He said: “You’d need to look at successful and proven managers, first of all. People with strong characters, people who have a clear identity of the way in which they play.

“You need a big personality, because we know there are some big egos in that dressing room.

“That’s always the case at big clubs, so you have to have somebody who can manage that, while also implementing a certain playing philosophy.”

Yorke continued: “Maybe Zinedine Zidane. I would think he fits the bill most.

“None of these players know him, so when he comes in with his kind of profile, he commands that instant respect because everyone is basically on trial.

“For me, he’s probably the best fit.”

He went on to rule out a return for Jose Mourinho as well as Xabi Alonso or Thomas Tuchel getting the job.

And he was adamant that another ex-Chelsea manager should 100 per cent not get it – despite his success working with incoming sporting director Dan Ashworth at Brighton previously.

Yorke added: “Who else is out there?

“They talk about Graham Potter, but the boys would eat him alive, I think, just based on what he did at Chelsea.”

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