Zinedine Zidane has called it quits as the Real Madrid manager after a trophyless season. The Frenchman decided to resign despite having another year left in his contract. Here's taking a look at Zidane's career with Real Madrid.
Zidane has been involved with the club since 2001. First as a player and then further as a scout, advisor, assistant manager, B team manager and finally as the first team manager.
Zidane joined Real Madrid from Juventus in 2001. He went on to win many trophies including the Champions League before retiring in 2006. Zidane to this day is one of the few Real Madrid legends to retire with Real Madrid.
On 1 June 2009 three years after his retirement, Zidane was announced as the advisor to the president after Florentino Pérez was named president of Real Madrid for the second time. In 2010 the former midfielder became chief advisor of the first team under Jose Mourinho.
The very next year the Frenchman became the sporting director. Zidane became Assistant manager when Carlo Ancelotti joined Los Blancos. Real Madrid went on to win the Copa Del Rey and the Champions League when he was Ancelotti's assistant.
Zidane began managing the Real Madrid Castilla side in 2014 and did so until 2016 when he was named the first team manager after Rafa Benitez was sacked. Zidane took charge of the Real Madrid side that looked abysmal under Benitez and managed to win the UEFA Champions League after being in charge for just over 4 months. Real Madrid finished 2nd in La Liga just 1 point behind champions Real Madrid.
His second season in charge created history at the Bernabeu. Real Madrid became the first club to successfully defend the UEFA Champions League. Real Madrid also won their first La Liga title since 2012. Zidane's Real Madrid won 5 major trophies in the calendar year 2017. Madrid often that season rescued games in the dying minutes.
In the 2017/18 season, Real Madrid had a bumpy start to their La Liga Campaign majorly because of the 5 match ban given to Cristiano Ronaldo. Real Madrid finished La Liga in 3rd position 17 points behind Winners FC Barcelona. Real Madrid once again shocked football by winning the UCL for the 3rd consecutive time and for the 13th time in total. At the end of the season, Zidane announced his departure stating that the team needed a change in order to progress.
Things went haywire in the 2018/19 season Real Madrid appointment Julen Lopetegui as their new manager. He was sacked in October following a string of bad results. Madrid again turned to their Castilla manager to rescue their season. This time another former Real Madrid Midfielder Santiago Solari. Solari had a good start but then crashed out of all three competitions in the space of a week. Real Madrid subsequently sacked Solari and reappointed Zidane.
Zidane was in charge for the rest of the season with practically nothing to play. He was heavily backed in the following transfer window by the signing of Eden Hazard, Eder Militao, Luka Jovic and Ferland Mendy.
In the 2019/20 season, Zidane won the La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup. If in his first tenure Real Madrid were a ruthless attacking side in his second tenure Real Madrid became a strong steady defence Real Madrid ended the season with the most clean sheets in La Liga thanks to a very solid defence. Zidane was credited for making arguably the strongest defensive Real Madrid side ever.
In 2020/21 Real Madrid started the season with 2 lacklustre draws Real Madrid were very inconsistent throughout the season. The main culprit were the number of injuries. Real Madrid faced 60+ injuries and Zidane had to play many big games without his first choice and sometimes even his second choice players. Many academy players came in and did the job but towards the end of the season many players who had managed to stay fit like Modric, Kroos and Casemiro looked fatigued especially in the UCL Semifinal against Chelsea.
Zidane has left his mark on the history of Real Madrid having achieved so much at the Spanish capital. Reports say that the Frenchman is not looking to take a break and wants to manage another team very soon. PSG and the France national side are potential destinations for Zidane.
