Anniversary: Zidane introduced at Real five years ago

HistoryJanuary 4th, 2016 is a significant day in Real Madrid’s history – the day Zinédine Zidane was introduced as Los Blancos’ new head coach. It was the start of one of the club’s most successful eras, with a record that may be forever.

Photo: imago images / Brand“>Enlarge

He indicates it himself: Five years ago, Zinédine Zidane was presented as the new head coach at Real – Photo: imago images / Brand

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Pérez’s courage is rewarded

MADRID. The five once adorned his jersey as a player at Real Madrid. Those five still play a role today, because it is now exactly five years since Zinédine Zidane took over the coaching position from the unsuccessful Rafael Benítez. Real President Florentino Pérez was viewed critically by many Madridistas at the time about the risk for this step, as Zidane had no experience as a head coach in the professional field – but the risk should pay off!

A record for the ages?

The Frenchman took up the position of coach at the Royal as an absolute player legend, his status within the club seemed hardly to be increased. Above all, his decisive volley goal in the 2002 Champions League final against Bayer Leverkusen will not be forgotten. It was his debut season with Los Blancos. But what the FIFA world footballer in 1998, 2000 and 2003 then achieved in his debut season as head coach, few had expected: He won the Champions League title again. And because he shaped the team around Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcelo and Co. into a mentality monster at European level, two more titles in the premier class were added in the following years 2017 and 2018. Previously, no team had even managed to defend their title, Real celebrated the title hat trick under Zidane: A record for the ages?

Season	Games	Siege	Delivered	Advocate	Tore	title
2015/16	27	21	4	2	72:19	1
2016/17	60	44	11	5	173:72	4
2017/18	62	39	14	9	148:69	4
2018/19	11	5	2	4	16:14	0
2019/20	51	32	12	7	99:43	2
2020/21	23	14	4	5	41:24	0
total	234	155	47	32	549:241	11

* Only compulsory, no friendly matches.

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The long-term solution for Zidane’s successor is Zidane

However, “Zizou” did not stay in office for the entire five years. After the third Champions League title in a row, he announced his resignation on May 31, 2018 and left at the greatest possible moment. “I think the players need a change too. (…) I just can’t see clearly that we will continue to win “, said the Frenchman at the time about his motives. He was proven right: first under Julen Lopetegui and later under Santiago Solari, months of failure followed despite changes. To be precise, it was around nine months. Nine months in which Zidane could recharge his battery and gain new strength. So it happened as it had to happen, even if nobody was one so expected a quick reunion: On March 11, 2019, successful coach Zidane returned to the coaching chair at Blancos.

A man, (not) a word?

“We will change things, that’s for sure”, announced Zidane on his return. Now, the 48-year-old’s second term in office when he won the Spanish championship and the Spanish Supercopa in the 2019/20 season can hardly be called unsuccessful, but he sees himself exposed to great criticism from many sides with regard to his statement. With Karim Benzema, Luka Modrić, Toni Kroos, Casemiro, Sergio Ramos, Raphaël Varane and Dani Carvajal, Zidane is relying on almost the same cornerstones as during his first term of office, and a new game system is also not recognizable – are these changes?

– Photo: imago images / EFE Agency“>

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On January 4, 2016, Zidane’s coaching career began in Madrid – Photo: imago images / EFE Agency

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The coach Zidane overtakes the player Zidane

After sometimes embarrassing appearances in the current season against Shakhtar (2: 3, 0: 2), Cádiz (0: 1), Valencia (1: 4) and Alavés (1: 2), Zidane’s voluntary departure at the end of the season seemed almost likely , the 1998 world champion looked too tired and unimaginative. Recently, however, his men showed convincing performances, winning seven of the last eight games in a draw, which also calmed down the situation around “Zizou” a little, especially since Mauricio Pochettino was a wish- Successor to many Madridistas for the royal coaching post has just arrived at Paris Saint-Germain.

But the fact is: if Zidane already achieved legendary status as a player at Los Blancos, he even added one more as a coach. If you look at least at the title haul, the six titles as a player at Real are compared to a total of eleven as a coach – and there could be more.

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