Zidane revealed his resignation to quit in a hastily-organized press conference. This comes just five days after he lead Real Madrid to a third straight Champions League win. He said he felt it was the right time to leave and that he had spoken to the club’s president, Florentino Perez, about it.
“I have decided not to be Real Madrid coach next season. I spoke to Florentino yesterday [Wednesday] to tell him my thoughts, my feelings. I know it’s a strange moment for everyone involved, but I think it’s the right decision,” the manager says.
Continuing the Championship winner says: “I think this team needs to keep winning but I think after three years a change is needed, something different, a different message, different ways of going about things.
“That’s why I decided to take this decision. It’s a club I love and I love the president too, he brought me to this huge club and I will always be grateful, but I think a change is needed so I will not be here next season.
“It’s my decision. For many people, this will not make sense, but it does for me. It’s time for a change.
“There have been tough times, in the Copa del Rey notably, and I don’t forget those. This club is in my heart. It ended well for me when I was a player and it’s ended well for me as a manager,” he adds.
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