Zinedine Zidane is reported to have resigned as Real Madrid manager for the second time in three years.
The Frenchman leaves after a disappointing season in which Real ceded their La Liga crown to fierce rivals Atletico Madrid.
Zidane has led Real to 12 major trophies as manager, which included three back-to-back Champions League triumphs in his first spell in charge, following a highly successful playing career in the Spanish capital.
Former teammate Raul Gonzalez, who currently manages Real Madrid’s Castilla reserve team, is among the favourites to replace him, alongside ex-Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri and Antonio Conte, who has announced his own shock departure from Inter just days after lifting the Serie A title.
Next Real Madrid manager odds
- Massimiliano Allegri – 4-6
- Raul – 5-2
- Antonio Conte – 5-2
- Guti – 15-2
- Thomas Tuchel 14-1
- Joachim Low – 14-1
- Maurizio Sarri – 20-1
- Fernando Hierro – 20-1
- Jupp Heynckes – 33-1
- Michael Laudrup – 33-1
Via Oddschecker
Zidane had refused to discuss his future after Real were dethroned as La Liga champions despite a stirring fightback in a 2-1 win over Villarreal at the weekend.
Real had to settle for second even after coming from behind to defeat Villarreal in their final game of the season as Atletico did exactly the same at Real Valladolid to preserve their two-point lead at the top of the table.
“I’m not the most important thing here, it’s all about what the players have done all season,” the Frenchman said at his post-match press conference.
“That’s why we should focus on what we’ve done during the season and then, in time, taking it calmly, we’ll see what happens. I’ll speak to the club in relaxed fashion, but later on, not right now.
“In the next few days we’ll speak to the club, to the people we need to speak to and that’s all there is to it. We’ll soon see what happens, but not just with me, with Real Madrid as a whole for next season.
“Today is a day to congratulate my players. We gave it all we had on the pitch. We haven’t won anything and the players want to win. I’m responsible for all that.
“There are things that are up to me and we’re going to assess all of that. That’s why I want to congratulate the players but what they really want is to win things.”
The defending champions had to win their final match of the season and hope for a slip at the last by Atletico, who fell behind early on but rallied in the second half courtesy of goals from Angel Correa and Luis Suarez.
Atletico’s result meant what happened at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano was irrelevant in the context of the title race, but Real ended their campaign with a flourish as Karim Benzema and Luka Modric struck late on.
“We have to congratulate Atletico Madrid, they deserve it too, because ultimately, the team that finish first deserve to win it,” Zidane added.
“They’ve had a great season and that’s all there is to it. As manager here, it’s a tough one to take because we didn’t win the league.”
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3fLe8dv
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