Fri | Dec 20, 2024

Zidane quits Madrid again

Published:Friday | May 28, 2021 | 12:12 AM
Real Madrid’s head coach Zinedine Zidane walks by the touchline during the Spanish LaLiga last-round match against Villarreal at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium in Madrid, Spain, on Saturday.
AP
Real Madrid’s head coach Zinedine Zidane walks by the touchline during the Spanish LaLiga last-round match against Villarreal at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium in Madrid, Spain, on Saturday.

MADRID, Spain (AP):

Zinedine Zidane is stepping down as Real Madrid coach, again.

The club said yesterday that the Frenchman is leaving his job, a few days after a season in which Madrid failed to win a title for the first time in more than a decade.

“(Zidane) decided to bring an end to his current spell,” the club said in a statement. “We must now respect his decision and express our gratitude for his professionalism, dedication and passion over the years and what he means to Real Madrid.”

Zidane had a contract through to June 2022.

“Zidane is one of Real Madrid’s great icons and his legacy extends beyond what he has achieved as a coach and player at our club,” Madrid said. “He is aware that he has a place in the hearts of the Real Madrid fans and that he will always have a home at Real Madrid.”

Zidane left the club for the first time after leading Madrid to one of their most successful runs from 2016-2018, with three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles. In his two years and five months in charge, Madrid won a total of nine trophies, including two FIFA Club World Cups, two UEFA Super Cups, one LaLiga title, and one Spanish Super Cup.

SECOND STINT

He only won the league title once and a Spanish Super Cup in his second stint.

He quit the first time less than a week after leading the team to its third straight Champions League title, saying it was time for a change and that he didn’t see it clearly that the club would keep winning with him in charge.

Zidane had been dismissing talks about his future recently, saying that he would discuss it with the club. He said he believed that Madrid could do well without him as coach.

Madrid President Florentino Pérez had said sometime ago he was pleased with Zidane and hoped the would stay with the club.

Among the possible candidates being talked about to replace Zidane were Massimiliano Allegri, Antonio Conte, Xabi Alonso, and former Madrid great Raúl González, who has been coaching Madrid’s ‘B’ team – just like Zidane was before taking over the main squad for the first time in 2016.

Zidane, who was yet to speak publicly after the announcement yesterday, left as the second-most successful coach at Madrid, trailing the 14 titles won by Miguel Muñoz in his 14 seasons at the club in the 1960s and ‘70s. Zidane was at the club’s helm for 263 matches, with 174 victories, 53 draws and 36 loses.