Zinedine Zidane had a legendary career at Real Madrid, both as a player (2001-2006) and as a coach (2016-2021).

As a player, Zidane joined Real Madrid in 2001 and left an unforgettable mark by leading the midfield with his elegance and technique. His most famous moment was his spectacular volley in the 2002 Champions League final, which gave the club its ninth title. He also won the league in the 2002/03 season.

Zidane goal against Bayer Leverkusen Uefa Champions League 2002.

Zidane began his first season as Real Madrid manager in January 2016, when he took over following the sacking of Rafa Benítez. Although it was his first experience managing a top-level team, Zidane quickly proved his ability to manage one of the most demanding clubs in the world.

 

Beginning and Context

Zidane, a club legend as a player, had previously worked as assistant coach to Carlo Ancelotti in the 2013-14 season, when Madrid won the ‘Tenth’ Champions League. He then managed Real Madrid's reserve team, Real Madrid Castilla, before making the jump to the first team in January 2016, when the club was in crisis. The team was five points behind Barcelona in La Liga and had lost some of its playing identity.

 

Transformation of the team

Zidane revitalised the team quickly, improving its morale, the dynamic in the dressing room and the players' confidence. He opted for a balanced line-up and brought back the best version of key players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modrić, Sergio Ramos and Toni Kroos. He introduced a more efficient rotation to keep players fresh in the decisive stages of the season.

 

La Liga and the title race

Although the team finished second in La Liga, Zidane managed to reduce the lead that Barcelona had when he took over and fight for the title until the final matchday. Real Madrid finished the season just one point behind Barcelona, showing a significant improvement on their performance in the first half of the season.

Champions League 2015-16

Real Madrid -  UEFA Champions League 2016

Zidane's greatest success in his first season came in the UEFA Champions League. Under him, the team advanced solidly in the knockout stages, beating the likes of Roma, Wolfsburg, and Manchester City. The final, played in Milan on 28 May 2016, pitted Real Madrid against Atlético de Madrid, repeating the 2014 final. In a hard-fought match, the result was 1-1 after 120 minutes, with the Madrid goal scored by Sergio Ramos. Zidane led the team to victory in a penalty shoot-out, where Real Madrid won 5-3, clinching their 11th Champions League.

 

Initial Impact and Legacy

With this victory, Zidane became the seventh coach in Real Madrid's history to win the Champions League, and the first French coach to do so with Los Merengues. His immediate success as coach generated respect from players and fans alike, cementing him as a leader within the club in less than six months at the helm.

 Zinedine Zidane celebrates the 2016 Champions League title with Real Madrid

Titles in his first season (2015-16)

1. UEFA Champions League 2016

2. European Super Cup 2016 (won in August against Sevilla)

3. FIFA Club World Cup

 

Zidane demonstrated a remarkable ability to manage egos, a deep tactical understanding and a knack for motivating his players, ushering in a historic era of success at Real Madrid. The Real Madrid 2015-2016 jersey symbolises a historic moment for the merengue club: winning the Champions League for the 11th time in 2016, an achievement that reaffirms the club's greatness. It symbolises victory in an epic final, under the leadership of Zidane and with a legendary team.

Zidane has won 3 Champions League titles in a row during his time as Real Madrid coach (2016, 2017, 2018), an unprecedented success. He also won 2 La Liga titles (2016-17, 2019-20) and several other trophies, such as 2 European Super Cups and 2 Club World Cups. A record too hard to beat!