ZIDANE IS A MANAGER ON A MISSION
THERE can be no denying that the legendary Zinedine Zidane is a born winner. He knows very little about losing cup finals.
The Real Madrid coach is enjoying a glittering career as a manager. He is on his way to replicating and emulating his accomplishments as a footballer.
Zidane was a joy to witness during his colourful football career that saw him dazzle in the colours of Juventus and Real Madrid.
The Frenchman has now won all nine of the finals he has presided over, including three Uefa Champions Leagues, two Fifa Club World Cups, two Uefa Super Cups and two Spanish Super Cups. That is insane, isn’t it?
Nine cup finals and nine triumphs.
A perfect record.
That is unprecedented. During his playing career, Zidane won silverware in Italy and Spain, where he was a household name. His club success was transformed to the national level.
He was colossal for France as they lifted the World Cup on home soil back in 1998. Individual gongs poured down like rain on Zidane because of his individual brilliance on the field.
Zidane will go down as one of the greatest footballers of all time.
Right now, he is on his way to becoming one of the greatest football managers of all time.
Madrid are joint log leaders in Spain’s La Liga alongside their sworn rivals Barcelona.
If Madrid can stay consistent then Zidane will get close to his second La Liga crown.
He has already won one championship with Los Blancos. The Frenchman is gunning for his second league title and a fourth Uefa Champions League triumph this season, but they have a tricky last 16 encounter against English champions Manchester City.
The Spanish giants need to clear that hurdle first before they can dream about going all the way.
City are no pushovers under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola. They are a formidable force. Guardiola is hungry for success on the continent as he hasn’t won a continental title since leaving Barcelona.
But Madrid have been in these situations before and they will back themselves to emerge victorious in the tie.
A victory will bring Zidane closer to greatness. The 47-yearold manager is still young in his coaching career but has already achieved more than most coaches can dream of.
In his four years as the head coach, Zidane has acquired 10 titles. He is on his way to joining the elite group of coaches like Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, Carlo Ancelotti, Bob Paisley, Jose Mourinho and Guardiola.
Zidane is one title away from being the most successful manager in the history of the Champions League. He is currently tied with the legendary Ancelotti and Paisley on three continental titles. Time is on his side to get past these great managers.
He is, however, a long way behind Miguel Munoz in terms of most La Liga titles. Munoz clinched an unprecedented nine titles with Madrid. Enrique Fernandez, Helenio Herrera and Johan Cruyff won the title on four occasions.
That he lags behind those great coaches, though, does not take away from the fact that Zizou is a fantastic coach for whom winning seemingly comes naturally.