Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has caused a tsunami in the Spanish Capital this Thursday, announcing his immediate resignation as head coach of the back to back to back European Champions. The Frenchman has possessed something of a Midas touch in his brief two and a half years in charge at the Bernabeu.
Already a legend in Madrid - having scored one of the greatest final goals of all time in Glasgow back in 2002 - Zidane answered Los Merengues' SOS without hesitation, tasked with steering a ship that was headed for the proverbial iceberg under predecessor Rafa Benitez to safety.
'Zizou' went above and beyond this call of duty, winning Los Blancos their 11th Champions League crown after only 5 months in charge and navigating his team to within a single point of previous runaway leaders, and eternal rivals, Barcelona.
In his first full season as manager, the French great won Real Madrid their first La Liga and Champions league double since 1958, and in the process achieved back to back European Cup successes - a feat never before accomplished in the tournament's current format.
Struggles
Following up this level of success was always likely to be mission impossible, and it very nearly was. This season, Real have majorly struggled in La Liga, having more or less given up in October, eventually finishing 19 points behind bitter rivals Barcelona in third place as they meekly surrendered their crown to the Catalan giants.
Despite a feeble campaign, Los Vikingos were about to humiliate themselves even more.
In the Copa Del Rey, Real were pitted against fellow Madrid outfit Leganes, in a tie that seemed a foregone conclusion. As if it was somehow written in the stars, Leganes knocked their counterparts out on away goals, having come back from a goal down to win 2-1 in the Santiago Bernabeu.
Make no mistake, this was one of the worst results in Real Madrid's history. Pressure was mounting on Zidane, and all eggs were in the Champions League basket only halfway through the season.
Despite all the odds, Real Madrid triumphed in European competition, knocking out the champions of France, Italy and Germany on their way to beating Liverpool in Kiev.
Zinedine Zidane, in spite of all of his, and Real Madrid's struggles throughout the season, had achieved the impossible. Los Blancos had won the Champions League 3 times in a row. The great Frenchman had normalised winning the European Cup.
Legacy
As manager of Real Madrid, Zidane has never lost a single European knockout tie. Having failed to witness a club ever defend a Champions League title, Zinedine Zidane turned the competition into his playground. In less than three years of management, he has won more Champions League titles than Sir Alex Ferguson, Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho. He has equalled Bob Paisley and Carlo Ancelotti.
While he may not have been the greatest tactician - he freely acknowledges this - Zidane possesses a mystical aura which demands a respect few other footballers throughout history can command.
Even from players as good as the ones which Real Madrid possess. His detractors call him lucky, there are running jokes on social media about his 'black magic’ but winning nine trophies in only 2 and a half years is far more than just luck.
Having won all there is to win - and leading his team into the pantheon of the all-time great sides by achieving something likely to never be repeated - Zinedine Zidane departs the club of his life having cemented perhaps the greatest legacy of any footballing figure in history. A World Cup and Champions League winner as a player, three-times Champions League winner as a manager. He came, he saw and he conquered the footballing world, merci Zizou.
