Zidane Says Goodbye To Madrid

Zinedine Zidane has told his Real Madrid squad that he will walk away from the club at the end of the 2020-21 season.

The Frenchman revealed his decision in the dressing room prior to last Sunday’s 2-2 draw away to Sevilla in La Liga.

It is the second time he has resigned from the post, having previously quit following Madrid’s third consecutive Champions League triumph in 2018.

Madrid take on Athletic Club on Sunday in La Liga and then conclude their season at home to Villarreal on May 23.

Those will be Zidane’s last two games in charge of the Blancos, having decided to cut short his second spell on the bench.

It was previously reported that the squad believed he would not stay on for another season after Madrid’s Champions League elimination at the hands of Chelsea at the semi-final stage.

The coach’s physical and mental fatigue have been mentioned as possible reasons for his stepping down, after he was drafted back into the hotseat in urgent circumstances towards the end of the 2018-19 campaign when both Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari failed to match his results at the Madrid helm.

Zidane’s timing may nevertheless also stoke up rumours linking the Frenchman to a sensational return to Turin.

A favourite at Juventus as a player, Zidane would be a dream candidate for the club should they dispense with Andrea Pirlo, although it is doubtful whether he would be prepared to jump back into coaching so soon after leaving the Spanish capital.

Will he leave with another La Liga title?
After falling at the penultimate stage in the Champions League, all eyes are on La Liga at Madrid.

Zidane won’t let Real look beyond winning their own games
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With two games left to play, Zidane’s men are currently second, two points behind leaders Atletico Madrid, with Barcelona a further two back in third.

Madrid, however, hold what might prove to be a decisive advantage. In the case of a tie on points, Zidane’s side have a superior head-to-head record against both their rivals, which would give them the edge.