Zidane resigns as Real Madrid manager

CAIRO – 31 May 2018: Surprising news for Real Madrid fans as their French manager, Zinedine Zidane, stepped down as Real Madrid manager after he led his team to achieve their third consecutive Champions League trophy.

“I love this club, I love the president. He gave me the opportunity to come as a player and now manager and I am eternally grateful, but we have to change,” Zidane told press on Thursday.

Zidane represented Real Madrid as a player when he joined the club in 2001 from Juventus. During his time with Real Madrid, he won his only Champions League trophy as a player in 2002, scoring the winning goal at the final.



Zidane was appointed Real Madrid manager in January 2016 to succeed the sacked manager, Rafael Beintez.

Real Madrid President, Florentino Pérez, commented on Zidane’s decision, saying “It is a sad day for me, the fans and the players, but he knows I wanted him as a player and as a manager. I wanted him to stay forever and I wanted to convince him to stay but I know it was his final decision.”



Zidane’s appointment changed the map of the European football as the French formed a stunning team that dominated the biggest European competition, Champions League, in the last three years.

Perez added, “All I want to do is remind him that this club is his home and family.”

Zidane also returned the Spanish League title to Real Madrid in 2017 after five years of absence.



Former Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, and current Tottenham Hotspur manager, Mauricio Pochettino, are big contenders to replace Zidane on Real Madrid's bench.