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Sports

Zinedine Zidane's bid to coach France after Euro 2012 was turned down

Associated Press
Published | Updated

PARIS – French soccer great Zinedine Zidane was turned down two years ago after offering to coach the country's national team.

French Football Federation President Noel Le Graet says in a book that Zidane expressed interest in replacing Laurent Blanc after the 2012 European Championship. Blanc and Zidane played together when France won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.

France Football magazine published an excerpt Tuesday from Le Graet's book. The book, "98 World Champions, Secrets and Power," is due this week.

Le Graet writes that he met with Zidane and it was "clear" he wanted to coach the team. Le Graet says he refused because Zidane lacked experience.

Zidane is now an assistant at Real Madrid. He has been linked to the Monaco job next season as a possible replacement for Claudio Ranieri.