There's controversy on and off the list of the top managers in 2018, as Jose Mourinho and Zinedine Zidane miss out entirely. (5:31)

Zinedine Zidane should make the next step in his coaching career in the Premier League, according to former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

Zidane has been out of work since choosing to leave Real Madrid last summer after guiding the club to a third successive Champions League triumph. Since then, he has been regularly mentioned as a potential replacement for Jose Mourinho at Manchester United.

Despite the former France captain's agent stating in October a move to England was "not appealing," Wenger believes that is the only league which can give his compatriot the challenge he needs.

"If you want to work at the top level, you have to go to England," Wenger told beIN Sports.

"England is the only country where six clubs can battle for the title. In other countries, you can generally say who'll be champion by December.

"Zinedine is in a complicated situation because he was at the biggest club in the world, and he can only go to the second biggest club. That means he's at a crossroads.

"Either he goes into a long-term project and he contributes to the construction of a club, or he goes back to a club capable of winning the Champions League."

Wenger has also been without a job since the summer, when he ended his 22-year association with Arsenal after winning three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups.