Player, assistant, manager: Serial winner Zidane wins Champions League every which way
Already one of the greatest players in the history of football, it turns out the Frenchman makes the right moves on the touchline, too
Already one of the greatest players in the history of football, it turns out Zinedine Zidane makes the right moves on the touchline, too.
When you have players of this calibre you can really achieve a lot. It’s positivism. Is that how you say it?
Less than five months after taking over a squad in disarray under Rafa Benitez, Zidane has brought Real Madrid back to their accustomed place atop European football.
“When you have players of this calibre you can really achieve a lot,” Zidane said. “It’s positivism. Is that how you say it? I believe a lot in work. We have the quality. Work is more important. That’s what we did. We all did a good job.”
Madrid’s 5-3 penalty shootout win over city rivals Atletico Madrid in a Champions League final that finished 1-1 after extra time on Saturday night also brought Zidane back to the pinnacle of the game.
Having led France to World Cup and European Championship victories, Zidane also scored with a remarkable left-foot volley on the edge of the area to give Madrid their ninth European title in the 2002 final against Bayer Leverkusen. He also won the tournament as an assistant to Carlo Ancelotti two years ago – also against Atletico.
Madrid president Florentino Perez went so far as to compare Zidane to the club’s legendary player Alfredo Di Stefano, who led the team to five consecutive European titles from 1956-60.
“I appreciate the president’s words. But Di Stefano is Di Stefano. Let’s not kid ourselves,” Zidane said. “I’m happy because I’m a part of this great club for a long time now. First as a player, then as assistant coach and now head coach. I really feel proud to be part of this big home.”
