Former Italy and Juventus coach Marcello Lippi says he never though Zinedine Zidane would one day become a manager.
The pair worked together at Juve before Zidane signed for Real Madrid and while Lippi says the Frenchman was undoubtedly one of the best players to ever play the game, he didn’t think he had what it takes to be a top level boss.
Zidane was promoted to the first team job at the Santiago Bernabeu in January following the sacking of Rafa Benitez. He has been in charge of the Real Madrid Castilla side and prior to that worked under another Italian – Carlo Ancelotti – as assistant manager.
Speaking to L’Equipe, Lippi stated: “I never thought that Zidane would become a coach. I have coached players like Deschamps who I knew would do well on the bench, but Zidane was certainly not one of them. That being said, I believe Zidane can do well at a big club like Real Madrid. Zidane is intimately familiar with the psychology of top players, in both defeat and victory.”
Asked what he thought of Zidane’s progress so far, Lippi said it was too early to make any sort of judgement.
“I think it is too early to pass judgement on him. He was brought in mid-way through the season which is always difficult and he needs a pre-season to work with his players and get his ideas across. People will underestimate him, I am sure of this. People will focus on Ronaldo on the pitch and forget that Zidane is coach.”
