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Zidane and Real Madrid, the history
Zinedine Zidane and Real Madrid have a history that dates back to 2001. The former attacking midfielder joined the club from Juventus for a then-world record transfer fee, and was a part of the ‘Galacticos’ a team full of the world’s biggest stars and famous names that could have had their own Hollywood Walk of Fame.
He went on to make 227 appearances for the club, scoring just short of half a century of goals before retiring in 2006. But the relationship didn’t end there - 10 years later, he would be appointed manager of the La Liga side to replace Rafael Benitez.
In the same year, the former France international led Real Madrid to Champions League success, beating Manchester City in the semi finals and league-rivals Atletico Madrid in the final following a penalty shout out to claim their 11th European Cup. Zidane became the seventh man to win the Champions League title as both a player and as a manager, the second at Real Madrid after Miguel Munoz.
In his first full season as manager, Zidane helped the side to breaking a league-record, with 40 consecutive wins in La Liga, beating Barcelona’s 39 unbeaten run under Luis Enrique.
The success continued, with a total of four titles. They claimed the UEFA Super Cup, the 2016 Fifa Club World Cup against Japanese club Kashima Antlers, and in the same season becoming the first club to win back-to-back Champions League titles, defeating his former club Juventus 4-1 at Cardiff.
The team also claimed the La Liga title with 93 points and just three losses throughout the whole season (Valencia twice and Barcelona) in one of the club’s most successful seasons in its history.
In 2017, Real Madrid won the UEFA Super Cup again against Manchester United, the FIFA Club World Cup against Gremio and Zidane was awarded Best FIFA Men’s Coach and would soon follow that up with their third Champions League final victory - this time defeating Liverpool 3-1 in the final. It saw the manager become the first to win the trophy in three consecutive years, and only one of three managers to win the cup three times.
However, five days later in a shock decision, Zidane announced his resignation as Real Madrid manager.
But obviously he couldn’t stay away for too long - nine months to be exact - and took charge once again following poor results for the side without the Frenchman in charge.
Fast forward to 2019 and Zidane finds himself under some pressure, although recent results in La Liga has seen his side boosted to second place. However, four points from three Champions League games is far from the norm for the club, including a 2-2 draw with Belgian First Division A side Club Bruges, and questions over his team selection and the current Gareth Bale story, the manager has had to face critics in recent times.
But how can you sack a manager that has become so successful in such a short period of time?
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