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Real Madrid announce Zinedine Zidane departure

Real Madrid announce Zinedine Zidane departure
© Reuters
Real finished runners-up to city rivals Atletico in LaLiga.

Real Madrid have announced the departure of head coach Zinedine Zidane.

Real were unsuccessful in defending their LaLiga crown this season, finishing runners-up to city rival Atletico, and Zidane has opted to end his second spell in charge.

A club statement read: "Real Madrid CF announces that Zinedine Zidane has decided to end his current stage as coach of our club.

"It is now time to respect his decision and show him our appreciation for his professionalism, dedication and passion in all these years, and for what his figure represents for Real Madrid.

"Zidane is one of the great icons 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 at the heart of Real Madrid and that Real Madrid is and will always be his home."

Real have failed to win a trophy for the first time in 11 years this season and there had been speculation over Zidane's future.

Zidane's side lost 3-1 on aggregate to Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final earlier this month, losing 2-0 at Stamford Bridge
Zidane's side lost 3-1 on aggregate to Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final earlier this month, losing 2-0 at Stamford Bridge (Adam Davy/PA)

The 48-year-old Frenchman has won the LaLiga title twice with the club and won the Champions League for three successive seasons since he first took charge in 2015.

Zidane spent five years as a player with Real until he retired after winning the 2006 World Cup with France.

He returned to the Bernabeu as manager of their B team, Real Madrid Castilla, in 2014 and was announced as Rafael Benitez's replacement as the club's senior head coach in January 2016.

The former midfielder left the club in May 2018 after leading them to their third Champions League title, but returned 10 months later to replace Santiago Solari.

Real reclaimed the domestic crown from Barcelona in 2020, but this season were knocked out at the semi-final stage of the Champions League and did not get beyond the last 32 in the Copa Del Rey.

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona17122350193138
2Real Madrid16113234132136
3Atletico MadridAtletico16105130111935
4Athletic Bilbao1795326151132
5Villarreal157532725226
6Real Sociedad167361611524
7Osasuna166642225-324
8Mallorca177371620-424
9GironaGirona166462223-122
10Celta Vigo166372527-221
11Real BetisBetis165651820-221
12Rayo Vallecano155461516-119
13Sevilla165471723-619
14Las PalmasLas Palmas165382227-518
15Getafe163761113-216
16AlavesAlaves164391827-915
17Leganes163671423-915
18Espanyol1541101528-1313
19Valencia142481322-910
20Real ValladolidValladolid1623111134-239


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