Zidane steps down as coach of Real Madrid – official

Zinedine Zidane has decided to step down as Real Madrid coach with immediate effect, Spanish media reported on Wednesday. 

The decision was announced by the club in an official statement. The club said Zidane is one of the great myths of Real Madrid and his legend goes beyond what he has been as a coach and player of our club.
 
“He knows that he is in the heart of Real Madrid and that Real Madrid is and will always be his home”, said the club.

Earlier AS newspaper reported that the Frenchman has called time on his second spell in charge of the La Liga club, who he has led to two league titles and three Champions League victories since 2015. 

Zidane has told club directors and the first-team squad of his decision, the reports said, which comes after his side narrowly lost out on the league title to city rivals Atletico Madrid on Saturday. 

Real finished second in the standings, two points behind Atletico, and were knocked out of the Champions League at the semi-final stage and the Copa del Rey in the round of 32 to end the season without a trophy for the first time in 11 years. 

(Reporting by Alasdair Mackenzie, editing by Ed Osmond)

Reuters / AS