BREAKING NEWS: Zinedine Zidane has resigned as Real Madrid manager after winning 3 consecutive Champions League trophies.
Zidane, 45, told a news conference at the Bernabeu Stadium he had “taken the decision not to continue next year”.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez was seated alongside Zidane.
Zidane will leave with his head held high after having ruled Europe for over 3 years.
“I love this club,” he added.
“What I think is that this team needs to continue winning but I think it needs a change, a different voice, another methodology. And that’s why I took this decision.”
Zidane on the moment he decided to leave: “I’m not going to say. I’m going to keep that to myself.”
He said in February that he would walk away if he felt there is “nothing more to give”.
However, the timing of the announcement comes as a shock days after their historic Champions League triumph in Kiev.
He further added: “This is a club that has won 13 European Cups, so I’m happy to be part of this history,” he said after victory in Kiev. ”
“We are going to think about what we achieved, enjoy the moment first. This is the most important thing now.”
“Zidane leaves the Bernabéu as the club’s second most successful manager of all time, winning nine of 13 titles available to him and placing the Frenchman behind only the legendary Miguel Muñoz, the architect of Real’s Liga dominance in the 1960s when the club won the title eight times. Overall, Muñoz delivered nine Ligas, two Copas del Rey, two European Cups and an Intercontinental Cup during a 14-season reign in Chamartín.
But not even Muñoz was capable of winning three European Cups / Champions Leagues in succession, which was Zidane’s final act as Real Madrid manager. The Frenchman is the only coach in history to achieve the feat and one of only three managers to win the competition three times overall, alongside Bob Paisley and Carlo Ancelotti.”
Sergio Ramos was quick to tweet a picture with Zidane thanking him for his stint at Real Madrid
As a player and coach you decided to say goodbye at the top. Thank you for two and a half incredible years. Your legacy will never be erased, one of the most successful chapters in the history of our beloved @realmadrid pic.twitter.com/dO6bw74aA3
— Sergio Ramos (@SergioRamos) May 31, 2018
Real Madrid will now be looking for their 4th manager in a space of 5 years.
Mauricio Pochettino has previously been linked with the big job at Madrid, but he signed a new contract with Spurs last week. There are other managers who are available as well such as Maurizio Sarri and Arsene Wenger. It will be interesting to see who Florentino Perez approaches for the magnanimous task of continuing the rich vein of success Zidane had got to the club.
(more to follow)
