Zinedine Zidane Resigns As Real Madrid Manager
Zinedine Zidane has announced that he will be stepping down as Real Madrid boss after two-and-a-half years in charge of the club.
The Frenchman called an unexpected press conference on Thursday afternoon to confirm that he will be leaving his position as the first-team head coach, despite his continued success in the Champions League.
The 45-year-old was believed to be under contract with Real until 2020 but a poor campaign in the league appears to have ended his fairytale at the club where he played as a midfielder for five years.
Zidane leaves Real Madrid as one of the club’s most successful managers having won three Champions Leagues, two Fifa Club World Cups and one La Liga title.
“I’ve taken the decision to not continue next year as Real Madrid coach,” Zidane told reporters.
“This is the right moment for everyone, it might seem a bit strange, but it had to be done for the good of everyone, the players, the club, and myself. This team must keep winning, and it needs a change after three years, another voice, another method of working.”
“I love this club a lot, the president, who gave me everything – to play first at this great club. I’ll always be thankful. Today I need to change, for me, for everyone, for this I’ve taken the decision,” Zidane added.
“I wanted him to stay forever and I wanted to convince him to stay. But I know it was his final decision,” said Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, who was present alongside Zidane.
“The only thing I want to say is ‘hasta pronto’ because I know he will return, maybe after a rest,” he added.
On Saturday he became the only manager in the Champions League era to win the trophy for three straight years with the same club.
However Real Madrid endured a disastrous league campaign last season, finishing 17 points adrift of eventual winners Barcelona.
Zidane said he would be taking a break from football after leaving Real Madrid and would not be interested in taking a new role: “I’m not going to coach next season. I’m not looking for another team.”
In February the Frenchman admitted he would consider quitting the club if he felt “there is nothing more to give”.
However after masterminding Real Madrid’s victory over Liverpool in Kiev, Zidane gave no indication that he was considering his future at the Bernabeu.
“This is a legendary club. This is a club that has won 13 European Cups so I’m happy to be part of this history,” he said.
He added: “We are going to think about what we achieved, enjoy the moment first. This is the most important thing now.”
The Frenchman has in the past been linked with the manager’s job at Chelsea, although Antonio Conte remains in charge for now with Maurizio Sarri tipped to replace him.
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been installed as the early favourite to succeed Zidane.
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