Zidane quits as Real Madrid Coach after Champions League treble

MADRID (AP) — Coach Zinedine Zidane says he is quitting Real Madrid after two and a half seasons with the Spanish club. The surprise announcement comes less than a week after Zidane led Madrid to its third straight Champions League title. Zidane said Thursday he felt it was the right moment — for him and for the club — to make a change. Zidane won nine titles as Madrid's coach, including the three Champions Leagues, one Spanish League, one Spanish Super Cup, two UEFA Super Cups and two Club World Cups. The 45-year-old Zidane was hired in January 2016 for what was his first major head-coaching job. The former star player arrived surrounded by doubts because of his lack of coaching experience but quickly surpassed expectations.

Zidane replaced Rafa Benitez after a stint with Madrid's "B'' team. He had been an assistant to Carlo Ancelotti when Madrid won the Champions League in 2014.

As a player, Zidane was in two consecutive Champions League finals with Juventus, losing both times, including to Madrid in 1998. He finally won the European title as a Madrid player in 2002, scoring an amazing volley in the final against Bayer Leverkusen.

With France, he won the 1998 World Cup. In the 2006 final, he was sent off for headbutting Italy defender Marco Materazzi.

Source:https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2018/05/31/zidane-quits-as-real-madrid-coach-after-champs-league-treble/35532971/?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=usatodaycomsports-topstories