After two and a half years of tremendous success, Zinedine Zidane was surprisingly fired as head coach of Real Madrid on May 31, 2018. This decision came just days after the Frenchman led the club to their third consecutive UEFA Champions League title and four successes in five years. The question that everyone has been asking is: Why did Madrid fire Zidane?
The Beginning of the End
There had been rumblings about Zidane’s future at Madrid even before the start of the 2017-18 season. The club had endured a disappointing campaign in La Liga, finishing behind rivals Barcelona by a massive 17 points. However, their success in Europe made up for their domestic shortcomings.
The cracks began to appear early on in the 2017-18 season. Madrid lost back-to-back games against newly-promoted Girona and Tottenham Hotspur in October and November respectively. They also suffered two humiliating defeats to arch-rivals Barcelona in December.
La Liga Woes
Madrid’s struggles in La Liga continued into the new year as they fell further behind Barcelona in the title race. They were also knocked out of the Copa del Rey by Leganes, a team from Spain’s second tier.
The situation came to a head after Madrid lost 3-0 to Barca at home in late December. Club president Florentino Perez publicly criticized Zidane’s tactics and called for change. The Frenchman responded by saying that he would not resign and that he had the support of his players.
Isco Controversy
One of the biggest controversies during Zidane’s tenure at Madrid involved Spanish midfielder Isco Alarcon. Isco was one of Madrid’s best players during their run to three consecutive Champions League titles, but he found himself out of favor under Zidane during the 2017-18 season.
Isco publicly criticized Zidane for his lack of playing time, saying that he did not have the trust of the coach. This caused tension within the squad and led to rumors of a rift between Zidane and some of his players.
End of an Era
Despite their struggles in La Liga, Madrid’s success in Europe meant that Zidane still had the backing of the club’s hierarchy. However, their Champions League triumph in Kiev would be his last game in charge.
Zidane announced his shock resignation just five days after Madrid’s win over Liverpool. He cited a need for change as his reason for leaving and said that he felt like he had taken the club as far as he could.
The Final Word
In conclusion, there were several factors that led to Zidane’s departure from Real Madrid. His struggles in La Liga, tension within the squad, and a desire for change all played a role in the decision to fire him. Although it was a surprise move by Madrid, it was clear that they felt it was time for a new direction after three years of unprecedented success under Zidane.