Tottenham line up ambitious move for Zinedine Zidane to replace Antonio Conte as manager

TOTTENHAM are being linked with a move for Zinedine Zidane as they search for a new manager following Antonio Conte’s departure.

Conte, 53, left by mutual consent on Sunday evening after a 16-month stint in charge of the club.

Zinedine Zidane is being linked with succeeding Antonio ConteAP

Conte left Spurs following explosive comments before the international breakPA

He exited under a cloud following a rant about the players and club in the wake of a 3-3 draw with Southampton before the international break.

But now his departure has been confirmed, a number of candidates are being linked with the role.

Spurs have given themselves time to appoint a long-term successor after handing the caretaker role to Cristian Stellini until the end of the season.

But a permanent replacement remains the focus for Tottenham chiefs.

And a return for Mauricio Pochettino is one of the possible options for the summer.

Former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann and ex-Barcelona head coach Luis Enrique have also been mooted.

But according to Sky Sports Italia, Real Madrid legend Zidane is also on Spurs’ shortlist.

The 50-year-old has been out of work since leaving Los Blancos for the second time at the end of the 2020/21 season.

During his first spell in charge at the Bernabeu, he won an incredible three Champions Leagues in a row.

It was widely reported he was holding out for the France job under the assumption Didier Deschamps would leave after the Qatar World Cup.

But after guiding Les Bleus to a second successive World Cup final, Deschamps penned a new deal to keep him in the job until 2026.

Zidane has also been linked with the PSG job should Christophe Galtier be sacked at the end of the season.