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SPORTS Friday 1 June 2018

Zidane quits as Real Madrid coach after 3rd Champions League

By TALES AZZONI “I want to leave when ev-
AP Sports Writer erything is going well. This is
MADRID (AP) — At least as a good moment to end it
a coach, Zinedine Zidane is well.”
going out on top. Zidane said his best mo-
After ending his playing ca- ment with Madrid was
reer by headbutting an op- when he was signed to
ponent in the 2006 World play for the club in 2001.
Cup final, Zidane is closing He won the Champions
out his stint with Real Ma- League with the club in
drid with the fresh image of 2002, scoring an amazing
him lifting the Champions volley in the final against
League trophy. Bayer Leverkusen.
Zidane made the surprise “As a coach, there were a
announcement that he lot things, like winning the
was leaving Madrid on Champions League, but if
Thursday, less than a week there was one specific mo-
after leading the team to ment, it was to win La Liga
its third straight Champions (in 2017). It was the great-
League title. est thing,” the Frenchman
“You have to know when to said.
quit,” said the 45-year-old Zidane was hired in Janu-
Zidane, who was Madrid’s ary 2016 for what was his
coach for two and half first major head-coaching
seasons. “This is the right job. The former star play-
moment. I am a winner er arrived surrounded by
and if I don’t see it clearly doubts because of his lack
that we will keep winning, of coaching experience
it’s time for a change.” but quickly surpassed ex-
It was an unexpected pectations.
move by the former great Zidane replaced Rafa
who won nine titles as Ma- Benitez after a stint with
drid coach, including the Madrid’s “B’’ team. He
three Champions League had been an assistant to
titles, one Spanish league ti- Carlo Ancelotti when Ma-
tle, one Spanish Super Cup, drid won the Champions
two UEFA Super Cups and League in 2014.
two Club World Cups. “It could be a ‘see you
“This club needs a change soon,’ because Madrid
to keep winning,” Zidane has given me everything
said. “With me it would and I’ll be linked to this
have been complicated to club my entire life,” Zidane
keep winning.” said. “The decision may
Zidane also thrived as a not make a lot of sense
player. He helped France to many, but it does to
win the 1998 World Cup, me. It was time to make a
but his career ended after change.”q
the 2006 World Cup final,
when he was sent off in dis- Zinedine Zidane speaks during press conference in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, May 31, 2018.
grace for headbutting Italy Associated Press
defender Marco Materazzi. side, but we know that to know things were not all moments but also compli-
His decision to quit as Ma- when Zizou makes a deci- perfect despite the good cated ones, and I don’t
drid coach suddenly left sion, the only thing we can results. forget them,” Zidane said.
the Spanish club’s future in do is to accept it and re- “After three years, (the
limbo. spect it.” club) needs a change in
Cristiano Ronaldo hint- Zidane spoke little about speech, a new work meth-
ed after the Champion his future but said he is odology,” he said.
League final he may leave not immediately looking Zidane mentioned the
as well, and Gareth Bale, to coach another club. struggles the team faced
unhappy with his lack of Perez also didn’t talk much this season, including in
playing time, could be on about the club’s search for the Spanish league and
his way back to the Premier a new coach, although the Copa del Rey. Madrid
League. several names are being finished third in the league
“It was a completely unex- talked about in local me- — 17 points behind cham-
pected decision,” Madrid dia, including Mauricio Po- pion Barcelona — and was
president Florentino Perez chettino, Antonio Conte, eliminated at home by Le-
said of Zidane’s departure. Joachim Loew and Arsene ganes in the quarterfinals
“Today is a sad day for me, Wenger. of the Copa del Rey, a mo-
for the fans and for all the Zidane said there wasn’t a ment which Zidane said
people who work at the specific reason that led him was the worst of his coach-
club. I wish we could al- to his decision, but appar- ing career with the club.
ways have Zidane by our ently he saw enough signs “We went through good