Zinédine Zidane in five dates, surprise exits and Champions League records | OneFootball

Zinédine Zidane’s six-season Real Madrid reign forged a coach defined by European titles, records and decisive exits. According to Le Progres, he succeeds Didier Deschamps with the Bleus after a trophy-laden apprenticeship and ascent in Madrid.

In 2013-14 he learnt under Carlo Ancelotti as assistant, completing his badges and overseeing tactical work. He admitted starting at Real was not easy, while Ancelotti publicly backed his potential. Madrid finished third, level with Barcelona on 87 points and three behind Atlético on 90, before sealing La Décima on 24 May 2014.

After an instructive, if modest, Castilla spell, he was promoted in early January 2016 amid a crisis under Rafael Benítez. Almost 6,000 fans watched his first session at Valdebebas, then a 5-0 win over Deportivo followed as he kept the flat 4-3-3 and placed Ronaldo, Benzema and Bale at the heart of it. On 28 May 2016 he delivered Madrid’s 11th European Cup.

The 2016-17 campaign brought a domestic surge, with 16 straight league wins, a first for a Spanish club in 55 years. That momentum underpinned a 40-match unbeaten run from April 2016 to January 2017.

In May 2018 Europe echoed the pattern, Madrid overcoming Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool for a third successive Champions League. Mohamed Salah’s early injury, Gareth Bale’s audacious overhead and two Loris Karius errors shaped the night.

Nine months after stepping away, he returned on 11 March 2019 to steady a side reeling from last-16 defeat by Ajax and a Copa del Rey exit to Barcelona.

Source: Le Progres