“I have taken the decision not to continue as coach of Real Madrid next year,” Zidane said.
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| Zinedine Zidane leaves Real Madrid TimsBlog237 |
“I spoke to the president to explain what I thought. I think it is the moment, for me and for the squad. I know it is a bit of a strange moment but I think it is the right moment. This is a team that should keep on winning and it needs a change for that. After three years, it needs another discourse, another working methodology, and that’s why I took this decision.”
These are words from Real Madrid historic coach, Zinedine Zidane. He made up his mind to leave the team barely 5 days after celebrating his third champions League trophy with the team.
His choice to leave the team kept the the team's president, Florentino Pérez saddened. He described this day a sad one and termed Zidane's move as totally unexpected.
" I would have loved to convince him to stay... but I know how he is", words from Florentino.
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| Florentino Pérez shocked by Zidane's Decision TimsBlog237 |
Zidane after acknowledging the fact that the team needed to try another working methodology that differed from his, he said staying longer with the team was no guarantee that it will keep winning and another person needed to also have an appraisal of the opportunity.
Zidane said he had spoken to the Real captain, Sergio Ramos, and he would speak to the other club captains, Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo, in due course. He said he had no plans to manage another club but was not tired of coaching. Real did not say anything about a successor but Mauricio Pochettino is among those they have long identified as candidates.
Extract of Zidane's press conference
Zidane had been due to discuss plans for the coming season – plans that would include the futures of Gareth Bale and Ronaldo, both of whom had suggested they would leave immediately after the Champions League final. Instead, it is the manager who walks away.