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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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1Barcelona14111242142834
2Real Madrid1393128111730
3Atletico MadridAtletico148512181329
4Villarreal137422521425
5Athletic Bilbao146532013723
6Osasuna146441922-322
7GironaGirona146352018221
8Mallorca146351312121
9Real BetisBetis145541616020
10Real Sociedad145361111018
11Celta Vigo145362224-218
12Sevilla145361318-518
13Rayo Vallecano134451314-116
14Leganes143561319-614
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves144191524-913
17Las PalmasLas Palmas143381825-712
18Valencia122461219-710
19Espanyol133191226-1410
20Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179


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