Zinedine Zidane resigns as Real Madrid manager

Zizou has decided to step down as Real Madrid's manager. EFE

Zinedine Zidane reportedly resigns as Real Madrid manager

By Zac Wassink | Last updated May 26, 2021 6:54 PM ET

Legendary footballing figure and Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane guided Los Blancos to three consecutive Champions League titles from 2016-18, won the 2016-17 La Liga crown and then returned after a brief departure to win the 2019-20 league title.

According to football insider Fabrizo Romano and ESPN's Rodrigo Faez and Alex Kirkland, though, Zidane resigned as Real manager on Wednesday.

Zinedine Zidane has communicated tonigjt to people who work around him and players that he’s 100% leaving Real Madrid. Confirmed. ⚪️

Zidane will speak with Florentino Perez and announce his decision officially in the next hours but he’s leaving. It’s over. ⏳ #Real #Zidane https://t.co/5mgJPfIOyD
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 26, 2021

Rumors began circulating as far back as December that Zidane may not make it through what ultimately became an unsuccessful and trophyless campaign. Atletico Madrid won the league, and Real were shockingly bounced from the Copa del Rey by third-tier Alcoyano in January.

Premier League side Chelsea eliminated Real from the Champions League earlier this month.

The news of Zidane's exit arose less than 12 hours after four-time Serie A champion and one-time Premier League winner Antonio Conte stepped down as head coach of Inter Milan by mutual consent shortly after leading Inter to their first league title in 11 years. Conte was linked with Real even before this latest development but could also be pursued by fellow Spanish giants Barcelona and Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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