La Liga
After three seasons, Zinedine Zidane leaves Real Madrid
Madrid, Spain – Just days after winning the prestigious Champions League, Zinedine Zidane leaves Real Madrid. In a shocking manner, Zidane announced on Tuesday he was resigning as manager of the Blancos after consecutively winning three straight Champions titles.
The 45-year-old said “I have made the decision to not continue next year as manager of Real Madrid. This is a strange moment but a very important moment. And I had to do this for everyone. This team must continue winning and it needs a change that will be good for everyone.
“Madrid has given everything to me and I will be close to this club for the rest of my life. But the team needs another methodology and that is why I have made this decision. For me and for everyone, today, a change is needed and that is why I have reached this decision. I am grateful to the fans.
“There are difficult moments when you can wonder whether you are the right person still. I do not forget the hard times, as well as the good times, and that makes you reflect. And this is the right moment. The players need a change, I want to thank them too, as in the end they are the ones who fight on the pitch. This is a demanding club, not easy for them, with this great history. We always want more from the players, and a moment comes when I cannot ask them for more. They need another voice, to return to winning again.
“I am doing this for the good of this team, for this club. It would have been difficult for me to win again next year. There have been good moments, but also difficult times. I do not forget that. And at this club you must know this. I do not want to start a season and have a bad time, I want to end with Real Madrid when everything is going well. I did it as a player, and now again as a coach. This the right moment to end things well.
“There are many reasons for this. I am not tired of coaching, after three years. But it is the moment to [leave] here…. I am not going to coach another team [right away].”
Contigo Empezó Todo
The famous phrase by Barcelona defender Gerard Pique in 2015, can now be used for Zidane. Everything started with you, Zizou. Since Pique mentioned that phrase, Real Madrid went on to winning the Champions League three consecutive years.
Zidane took over from Rafael Benitez mid-season in January 2016 and drove Madrid to the 11th Champions. He then went on to winning the 2017 Champions title and added La Liga title for an impressive double.
In 2018, Zidane made history and won the third consecutive title. An accomplishment that had not been done in 40 years.
In addition, Zizou won two FIFA Club World Cups, something done only by Real Madrid in modern age. He also managed the team to two European Super Cups and a Spanish Super Cup.
While many believed he was not a great strategist when it came to the Xs and Os, Zidane has shown to be a phenomenal manager. Someone that was able to manage the greatest ego of Cristiano Ronaldo. Someone that was able to get the best out of James Rodriguez, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Isco Alarcon. Players that had in some way or another complained about their playing time.
Nevertheless, Madrid finished third in La Liga with 17 points behind Barcelona and was eliminated by Leganes in Copa del Rey.
Perhaps his decision was mostly based on the stressful position he’s in and the toll the it takes on someone. The same happened with Pep Guardiola when he left the club in 2012. We still have not seen Zidane without the best players in the world.
At this time, most clubs have already appointed a manager like Bayern Munich hiring Niko Kovac and PSG Thomas Tuchel.
Who Takes Over?
Everyone always mention Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino as Zidane’s replacement. However, Real Madrid have two or three managers in their lower ranks who would also be qualified to take over in similar fashion as Zidane did. These managers are Raul Gonzalez, Guti and Alvaro Benito. However, other managers also in contention would be Arsene Wenger, Antonio Conte and Maurizio Sarri.
