Skip to main contentSkip to navigationSkip to key eventsSkip to navigation

Zinedine Zidane quits Real Madrid after winning third Champions League - as it happened

This article is more than 5 years old

Zinedine Zidane has parted company with Real Madrid after winning three consecutive Champions League titles

 Updated 
Thu 31 May 2018 08.35 EDTFirst published on Thu 31 May 2018 07.13 EDT
Zinedine Zidane leaves Real Madrid: 'it's strange but this is the right moment' – video

Live feed

We shall wrap this up now. At this point we usually do a summary of events, a bitesize breakdown of what has occurred, but on this occasion it should be quite simple...

  • Zinedine Zidane has stepped down as Real Madrid head coach, citing the need for ‘change’ at the club to continue their success. More details here.
  • Florentino Perez had no idea this was coming.
  • Nobody knows what will happen next.
  • Fin.

Thanks for reading, and thanks for your emails.

Share
Updated at 

Oh, lovely shout here from Joseph Lam: “Xabi Alonso is getting into management: maybe he could jump right into the deep end.”

Sounds like (most of) the Real players had quite a nice time under Zizou...

Mister Zizou. He aprendido muchísimo a tu lado!
He disfrutado como un niño a cada entrenamiento, a cada consejo!
Eres muy especial para mi!
Has hecho historia con tu trabajo, tu dedicación, pasión y sobretodo con tu humildad!
Gracias Mister #marchelin 😭 pic.twitter.com/MvWCwjYSqR

— Marcelotwelve (@MarceloM12) May 31, 2018

Tony Sullivan (an Evertonian) went there...

“Left field suggestion...Jürgen Klopp, right playing style and would probably bring Salah and maybe Firmino with him.”

Holy hell...

Also worth noting that Real Madrid will now be the 9th team - out of 19 confirmed La Liga sides for next season - to change coach this summer. Joining Sevilla, Girona, Espanyol, Huesca, Real Sociedad, Athletic Club, Celta Vigo, Leganes (also relegated Depor, Las Palmas)...

— Colin Millar (@Millar_Colin) May 31, 2018

Michael Edgar has a suggestion: “Ronaldo pretty much won the European Championship as interim coach for Portugal for all of 70 minutes or so? No?”

It would be entertaining if one of the Real players tweeted ‘Good riddance, let’s get a manager in who knows what he’s doing.’ But for now, we’ll have to make do with this...

No tengo palabras para agradecerte todo lo que has hecho por este vestuario, por el Real Madrid y por el madridismo. Ha sido un orgullo y un privilegio tener como entrenador a mi ídolo. Eterno Zizou. pic.twitter.com/wjK45SMQz7

— Casemiro (@Casemiro) May 31, 2018

Any left field nominations that haven’t already been mentioned here? And would just like to head off at the pass any ‘banter’ suggestions: I’ve set a filter on my email to block any emails mentioning the names Allardyce (Allardici), Pardew or Curbishley. Email me here.

Some other names in the betting: Massimiliano Allegri, Joachim Löw, Diego Simeone (!), Laurent Blanc, Carlo Ancelotti...and then from that point it starts to get really silly.

And here’s Sergio...

Míster, como jugador y ahora como entrenador, decidiste despedirte en lo más alto. Gracias por dos años y medio de fútbol, trabajo, cariño y amistad. Te vas pero tu legado ya es imborrable. Uno de los capítulos mas exitosos de la historia de nuestro querido @realmadrid pic.twitter.com/LtyEE5g71k

— Sergio Ramos (@SergioRamos) May 31, 2018

So attention turns to who comes next, and inevitably there will be some nervous clubs in the Premier League. Well, nervous club. Mauricio Pochettino is the favourite with some bookies, while Antonio Conte is also in the running. The sentimental might think Arsene Wenger could do it, having been approached a few times before, while Mauricio Sarri is technically currently unemployed. Guti is also high up in the betting - he’s their under-19s coach - as is Santi Solari, who has Zidane’s old job as coach of Real Madrid Castilla.

Nobody saw this coming. If you believe him, not even Florentino Perez. But what a move it is: you sort of hope that Zidane now retires from coaching altogether, because what will top winning three Champions League titles in two-and-a-half seasons with Real Madrid, the club at which you were already a hero? Maybe picking up the shambolic pieces from France after their disappointing first round exit under Didier Deschamps at this summer’s World Cup, and winning in 2022? Actually, definitely that...but probably only that.

Zidane asked if he would have stayed had they lost Champions League final last weekend: “I don’t know. Maybe.”

— Dermot Corrigan (@dermotmcorrigan) May 31, 2018

And that’s the press conference over. There’s a hearty round of applause from the assembled media, and Zidane disappears through the press room door. Well then.

Zidane has spoken to Sergio Ramos, who supports him, and has sent a message to the rest of the squad. He says he doesn’t have plans to coach next season. If anyone has earned a long lie down, it’s him.

He also mentions that he’s pretty tired, which tallies with this, as he said a few months ago: ““Being a coach is extremely tiring - more so at a club like Real Madrid, When I feel there is nothing more to give, I’ll walk away.”

Zidane has repeated the line that he thinks change is required. “Big players need change,” he says. Which is true enough.

Stop blubbing excessively, Madridistas, he could be back: “Of course, I could return, I’ll always be near to this club as it’s close to my heart. I think many won’t understand but I know it’s the right time. Time for a change. And for the players too.”

Zidane said he “doesn’t forget the hard times” as he reflects: as he’s won the Champions League in all three of his seasons in charge, there weren’t that many hard times, Zizou...

Zidane: Zidane: "I made this decision because I love this club, I love (Florentino Perez) and I am grateful towards him." #RealMadrid

— footballespana (@footballespana_) May 31, 2018

Zidane: "#RealMadrid have given everything to me. I will be forever close to this club, to my club."

— footballespana (@footballespana_) May 31, 2018

Floretino Perez is next to Zidane and has that look on his face of a man trying to stay calm but panicking under the surface. He said they didn’t see this coming and have no earthly idea who will replace him. Paraphrasing, obviously.

Ch-ch-ch-changes.

Zidane: "This is the right moment for everyone, it might seem a bit strange, but it had to be done for the good of everyone, the players, the club, and myself. This team must keep winning, and it needs a change after three years, another voice, another method of working."

— Dermot Corrigan (@dermotmcorrigan) May 31, 2018

Zidane has resigned from his post as Real Madrid manager, having won three consecutive Champions League titles, and the 2016-17 Liga title, it was announced at a news conference at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium

Most viewed

Most viewed