Real Madrid have confirmed the departure of Zinedine Zidane, saying it is “time to respect” the decision of a manager who has won the Champions League three times and La Liga twice with the club.
Zidane has stepped down after a disappointing season for Madrid, who lost out to Atlético Madrid in a title race that went to the final day. Real Madrid were also knocked out of the Champions League by Chelsea in the semi-finals as they failed to win a trophy for the first time in 11 seasons.
“It is now time to respect his decision and show him our appreciation for his professionalism, dedication and passion in all these years, and for what his figure represents for Real Madrid,” the club said.
“Zidane is one of the greats of Real Madrid and his legend goes beyond what he has been as a coach and player for our club. He knows that he is at the heart of Real Madrid and that Real Madrid is and will always be his home.”
Antonio Conte, who left Internazionale on Wednesday, is among the candidates to take over from Zidane. Madrid have an in-house option in Raúl, their former player who is in charge of the club’s B team, and had been in talks with Massimiliano Allegri but he has agreed to return to Juventus.
Zidane was in charge of Madrid from January 2016 to May 2018 and returned in March 2019.
He won his second La Liga title last season and in his first stint he won three Champions Leagues and the league in 2016-17.
