Zinedine Zidane succeeded in a year and a half what all coaches dream with his team Real Madrid. Two weeks after wining in the La Liga, the 40-year-old coach raised his second Champions League and created great history.
Zidane had already marked the history of the Champions League as a football player in 2002, with a prodigious volley remained in the memories in the final against Germany club Leverkusen. On the bench, he had triumphed a second time alongside Carlo Ancelotti, his coah, in 2013.
Madrid is Zidane’s home, and Zidane patiently, wisely waited for his time. When Rafael Benitez took over in January 2016, many doubted his ability to impose his paw on the bench of Real Madrid, arguably the most demanding in the world.
Zidane had only led to the Castilla, the reserve of the club, and never professional team. Five months later, not even, he created the legend by becoming the first Frenchman to raise the Champions League as a football player and the coach. What could he dream about Saturday on the lawn of the lawn of the Millennium, the La Liga and a second Champions League in a row.
Real Madrid President Florentino Perez credited Zidane after Real Madrid win against Juventus on Saturday night. “He has been here for 17 months and in 17 months he has done everything. All Real fans should thank him,” Florentino Perez told media.
When answered by media about his key to success at Real, Zidane said the players do no get tired and it’s easy to win. “Each player feels important,” Zidane told media. “And they all get along well. There is a connection between them. When you win, it’s easier, but it’s also a lot of work. The key to success is that the players do not get tired. I want to dance. I owe everything to this club, it is my heart,” he added.
Real Madrid players celebrate their Champions League title after a 4-1 winning against Juventus. (Source:www.champions-league-final.com)
Since 1990 and Arrigo Sacchi, no coach has managed the feat of retaining his title. Zidane has the same age as Milan’s strategist at the time, but one can not help but look further for the one who was also sacred Ballon d’Or in 1998.
Zidane has changed since his youth at the Castellane, since 2006 and this end of career in fish tail against Italy. Faced with the press, he is more skilled, he smiles, plays, jokes even sometimes. But entering his head is not easier, even for his players.