Zidane resigns as Real Madrid boss after first trophyless season in 11 years
Real Madrid have confirmed that Zinedine Zidane has decided to step down as the club's manager despite still having 12 months left to run on his contract.
Zinedine Zidane has resigned as Real Madrid manager with immediate effect, just days after the club were beaten to the La Liga title by Atletico Madrid.
Real Madrid have confirmed that Zinedine Zidane has decided to step down as the club's manager despite still having 12 months left to run on his contract.
Zidane told club directors and the first-team squad of his decision on Wednesday and is finalised his exit at Real's Valdebebas training complex a day later.
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The Frenchman's reported departure comes at the end of a disappointing campaign for the 13-time European champions, who also lost to Chelsea in the Champions League semi-finals as they failed to win a trophy for the first time in 11 seasons.
Real finished second in La Liga, two points behind Atletico, and were knocked out of the Champions League at the semi-final stage and the Copa del Rey in the round of 32 to end the season without a trophy for the first time in 11 years.
The Liga giants have said in a statement on their official website.
"It is now time to respect his decision and show him our appreciation for his professionalism, dedication and passion in all these years, and for what his figure represents for Real Madrid," a club statement read.
"Zidane is one of the great myths of Real Madrid and his legend goes beyond what he has been as a coach and player of our club. He knows that he is at the heart of Real Madrid and that Real Madrid is and will always be his home."
Only 10 days ago Zidane, who has a contract until 2022, denied media speculation that he had already told his players that he would be leaving at the end of the season.
"How am I going to tell my players that I am going now? It's a lie," he said after a 1-0 win at Athletic Bilbao.
"I focus on this season. There is a game left and we are going to give everything. I only care what happens in this finale."
But, perhaps tellingly, he added: "The rest, we will see at the end of the season."
If confirmed, it marks the end of Zidane's second spell in charge of the Spanish giants.
The 1998 World Cup winner first took the helm in January 2016 and guided Real to the 2017 La Liga title and an unprecedented hat-trick of Champions League titles before abruptly quitting on May 31, 2018.
He returned in 2019, winning a second La Liga crown in 2020 and the Spanish Super Cup.
