Zinedine Zidane steps down as Real Madrid manager

Zinedine Zidane has decided to step down as Real Madrid boss despite having one more year remaining on his contract at the Bernabeu.

Madrid failed in their defence of their 2019/20 La Liga title as Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid were crowned Spanish champions for the first time in seven years earlier this month.

According to AS, Zidane asked for a few days to make a final call on his future in the wake of Madrid’s final league match against Villarreal before informing the club that it was indeed his intention to leave on Wednesday.

The report claims the iconic 48-year-old Frenchman – who led Madrid to three back-to-back Champions League titles in his previous managerial spell from 2016 to 2018 – told his players across the afternoon as he wanted them to find out in person.

Zidane was keen to not to drag out the affair in order to provide Madrid’s hierarchy with ample time to find a replacement, with a big summer transfer window planned.

Massimiliano Allegri, Raul Gonzalez, Joachim Low and Antonio Conte are among the leading candidates to replace Zidane at the helm.

‘Now we have to be calm and in the next few days we’ll talk about it,’ Zidane told reporters when pressed on his future after Madrid came from behind to beat Villarreal.

‘In a little while we’ll see what’s going to happen.

‘Not only with me, but with everything the club is going to do for next season.’

Star striker Karim Benzema appeared confident Zidane would stay on with Los Blancos when asked about the speculation surrounding his fellow countryman during a wide-ranging interview with L’Equipe on Tuesday.

‘He’s been the Real Madrid head coach until now, right?’ Benzema told the French publication.

‘I don’t see him leaving. He won’t leave, you’ll see.

‘If he leaves, he leaves… but for now I don’t see Real Madrid without Zidane.’

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