MADRID – Real Madrid have confirmed that “Zinedine Zidane has decided to end his current career as coach” with a kind statement, asking them to “respect” his decision as ESPN progresses.
ESPN already reported on Wednesday that the French coach had announced his decision without headlines after a season for both Florentino Perez and the team.
Zidane made it clear in a speech on Thursday morning that he would always be “at the heart of Real Madrid and that Real Madrid will always be his home”.
Official Report: Zinedine Zidane.#RealMadrid
– Real Madrid CF (realmadrid) May 27, 2021
“Real Madrid CF announce that Zinedine Zidane has decided to complete his current phase as coach of our club,” the company confirmed on its website.
“It’s time to respect his decision and show our appreciation for his professionalism, commitment and interest over the years and what his figure means for Real Madrid.”
Zidane, 48, returned to Madrid in 2019 after successfully receiving his first spell at the club between 2016 and 2018.
The Frenchman, who played for Madrid for five seasons, won three consecutive Champions Leagues in 2016, 2017 and 2018, but in May of that year he decided to leave his post because he felt the team needed a change of coach.
Zidane won the La Liga title last season, but will leave after a gap of one year, in which he was knocked out by Chelsea in the Champions League semi-finals and placed second behind Atletico de Madrid in La Liga.
In total, it has won 3 Champions League, 2 Club World Cups, 2 European Super Cups, 2 Leagues and 2 Spanish Super Cups.
“Zidane is one of Real Madrid’s best legends and his legend goes far beyond being the coach and player of our club,” the Madrid statement added.
“He knows he’s in the heart of Real Madrid and that Real Madrid will always be his home.”
At Real Madrid, they had been thinking for weeks that Zidane would not continue on the Madrid bench despite having another season on his contract.
Zidane asked for a difference a few days after finishing La Liga, but on Wednesday he announced the final decision to both Florentino and his players.
Captain of Madrid, Sergio Ramos, He wanted to say goodbye on behalf of the staff through an Instagram post in which he expressed his admiration for the Frenchman and wished him “all the best”.
From now on, Real Madrid will focus on finding a new coach.
At the club they recognized ESPN as the best venue for Massimiliano Allegri’s experience and international acclaim, but in Italy they promised that the Italian coach would finally sign Juventus.
Even Raul Gonzalez Blanco, Antonio Conte and Mauricio Pochettino now sound like possible alternatives.
Conte has been close to coming to Madrid in the past, with ESPN knowing that he left Inter Milan on Wednesday, while Pochettino has been linked with a return to Tottenham London club.
