Zinedine Zidane spoke in press conference at Valdebebas this afternoon to announce his departure from Real Madrid. The coach explained that the team needs a change after winning three straight Champions League titles. The French manager gave his explanations for about 30 minutes together with Florentino Pérez, who was seated next to Zizou with a shocked face, like every single Real Madrid supporter.
The president explained that Zidane went on Wednesday to his office to tell the news. He tried to convince him but it was impossible and it was made public less than 24 hours after. “I took the decision of not being the Real Madrid coach next year. I spoke with the president to explain him what I thought. It’s the moment for all of us. The first one for me, for the squad and for the club. I think this team needs to keep winning and it needs a change. After three years, the team needs another speech, another methodology and this is why I took this decision”, Zidane explained.
From now on, Zidane has become one of the legends of the club, but the love is mutual: “I love a lot this club, also the president, who gave me the opportunity to play at Real Madrid and I will be thankful my whole life, but today we have to change for me and for everybody. And that’s why I took this decision”, the French manager added.
Only four days after winning the third Champions League in a row, Zidane decides to step down. The defeat against Leganés in Copa del Rey was his worst moment as a coach, as he admitted in press conference. But also the bad tournament in La Liga could be behind his departure.
“There are difficult moments and these things make you think about. It’s the moment. The players need a change. I want to thank the footballers, who are the ones that fight in the pitch. It’s the moment to have another speech and continue winning”.
In these two years and half as a head coach of Real Madrid, Zidane won three Champions League, one La Liga title, two European Supercups, two FIFA Clubs World Cup and one Spanish Supercup. Therefore, Zizou leaves the club with 9 titles out of 13 team. Zizou is now a vivid legend of the club, just like Paco Gento.
