Zidane
Flickr photo by United Nations Development Programme shared under a Creative Commons (BY-NC-ND 2.0) license.

Zinedine Zidane: He came, he saw, he conquered

Muhammad Osama·
Real Madrid
·1 Comment·

Zinedine Zidane has left behind an ever-lasting legacy at Real Madrid…

When the Frenchman was appointed as Rafa Benitez’s replacement in 2016, many questioned the decision as they weren’t convinced by Zizou due to a lack of managerial credentials. Despite previously working as Carlo Ancelotti’s assistant, and serving as Real Madrid Castilla’s head coach for a year, his ascension to the Bernabéu hot-seat came as a surprise to everyone in the footballing world. What Zidane has achieved since then can only be described as the stuff of dreams.

Real Madrid is a massive club, with a dressing room full of stars. One of the main challenges any manager faces at a big club is handling the inflated egos at his disposal. Zidane seemed to do it flawlessly, and his most valuable asset was undeniably his man-management. He developed a strong sense of unity in the squad, with players willing to run through a brick wall for their manager; something that his predecessors failed to do.

Defying the odds

Zidane began his tenure by making some tactical changes – interchanging between a 4-4-2 diamond and a conventional 4-3-3 according to the circumstances. The Frenchman played the system which suited his players the most, and this eventually proved key to his success. In his first season, he won the Champions League title by beating rivals Atlético Madrid on penalties. Many pundits termed him lucky and said that he wasn’t tactically astute enough to be successful in the long-term.

The former Galáctico silenced his doubters in style during his second season at the club, winning a La Liga and Champions League double, with Real Madrid becoming the first team to retain the UEFA Champions League in the process. He trumped Massimiliano Allegri in the final by beating Juventus 4-1. In doing so, he exemplified his strategic brilliance – and yet, some of his critics still refused to acknowledge his mastery.

Unfortunately, the following season began with Real Madrid languishing way behind Barcelona in La Liga – and a loss to Tottenham in Europe piled even more pressure on Zizou. After finishing second in their UCL group, Madrid were handed a draw against Paris Saint Germain in the Round of 16, with the French giants tipped to win the whole competition.

The game against PSG was built as make-or-break for Zidane’s future at the club. However, he showed his managerial prowess once again by winning an unprecedented third Champions League title in a row. Los Blancos beat Liverpool in the final, overcoming the champions of France, Italy, and Germany in the previous stages of the competition.

And now, surprisingly enough, Zinedine Zidane has resigned from the hot-seat. It’s time to recognize Zizou as one of the great managers of the game, and not many get to leave Real Madrid on their own terms. A great playing career does not guarantee a triumphant managerial career, but in Zidane’s case, it felt like destiny. It will be intriguing to see where he goes next – and one thing is for sure; wherever he goes, he will bring success with him.