When Did Zidane Leave Madrid?

By Alice Nichols

There was a time when Real Madrid was the most dominant team in the world of football, and one of the key figures behind their success was none other than Zinedine Zidane. The Frenchman had a remarkable tenure as the head coach of Los Blancos, but it came to a surprising end in 2018. In this article, we will delve deep into the timeline of events that led to Zidane’s departure from Real Madrid.

Early Days

Zidane’s association with Real Madrid goes back to his playing days when he signed for the club in 2001 for a then-world record fee. He played for five seasons for Los Blancos, winning multiple trophies including La Liga and Champions League titles. After retiring from football in 2006, Zidane stayed close to the club and took up a role as an advisor.

The Beginning of Zidane’s Coaching Career

In 2014, Zidane was appointed as the coach of Real Madrid Castilla, the reserve team of Real Madrid. He led them to an impressive campaign in Segunda Division B but failed to secure promotion to Segunda Division A. However, his stint with Castilla proved to be crucial in his development as a coach.

Taking Over as Head Coach

In January 2016, Zidane was appointed as the head coach of Real Madrid after Rafael Benitez was sacked following a string of poor results. It was a major gamble by the club’s president Florentino Perez considering that Zidane had no prior experience at managing a top-tier team. However, it turned out to be an inspired decision as Zidane led Real Madrid to their 11th Champions League title that season.

Success Upon Success

Zidane continued his success story at Real Madrid by leading them to back-to-back Champions League titles in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons. He also won the La Liga title in the 2016-17 season, making him one of the most successful coaches in Real Madrid’s history.

Zidane’s Departure

Despite his success, Zidane shocked the world by announcing his resignation as head coach of Real Madrid on May 31st, 2018. Many speculated that it was due to a fallout with Florentino Perez over transfer policies. Zidane himself stated that he felt it was time for a change and that he had taken the team as far as he could.

The Aftermath

After Zidane’s departure, Real Madrid struggled to find a suitable replacement and went through three coaches – Julen Lopetegui, Santiago Solari, and Zidane’s successor Jose Mourinho – before reappointing Zidane in March 2019. Since then, Zidane has led Real Madrid to another La Liga title in the 2019-20 season.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Zinedine Zidane left Real Madrid on May 31st, 2018, after an incredibly successful tenure as head coach. Despite rumors of a fallout with Florentino Perez, Zidane stated that it was time for a change and that he had achieved all he could at Real Madrid.

His departure sent shockwaves across the footballing world and left big shoes to fill for his successors. Nevertheless, his legacy at the club remains intact and will forever be remembered as one of Real Madrid’s greatest coaches.