Zidane could become the greatest of all at Madrid

TACKLING THE WEEK’S BIGGEST ISSUES EXCLUSIVELY IN SPORTSMAIL

WHAT does he really do? It might seem an odd question to pose about a manager who stands on the brink of history — but it’s one some people will ask. Zinedine Zidane was a genius as a player but his career in the dugout so far has passed without significant acclaim. That is remarkable when you consider what he has done in a short period of time. Tonight in Cardiff, he has the chance to become the first manager in the Champions League era to win the tournament back-toback. His CV over 18 months also includes Real Madrid’s first La Liga title since 2012 and the Club World Cup, yet whenever we talk about the Spanish giants, the focus centres on Cristiano Ronaldo’s exploits or Gareth Bale’s brilliance. Why is it assumed that Zidane (right) is a figurehead and everything Real achieve is down to the talent of the squad? If asked to write down a list of the world’s top ten managers, I’d say 95 per cent wouldn’t include his name. His situation has parallels with Vicente del Bosque. He was manager of Real when Zidane arrived as a player for a golden era at the beginning of this century and then lead Spain to victory at the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012. Del Bosque rarely became animated on the sidelines. He had the look of your favourite old uncle and Xabi Alonso once told me that one of his greatest abilities was to keep a low profile and make sure everyone was happy. As a result, when we look back at his teams’ achievements, we remember the magic in Spain’s midfield of Alonso, Xavi and Andres Iniesta, or Real’s

galactico era of the Brazilian Ronaldo, Luis Figo, Zidane and many more. The importance of the manager, though, can never be understated. Del Bosque was axed by Real for failing to retain the Champions League in 2003 but his sacking triggered the start of a spell when they won nothing for four years and failed to get beyond the Champions League’s last 16. Real Madrid is such an extraordinary club that perhaps the best results are achieved by those with an ability to remove themselves from the spotlight to concentrate on their work. Zidane has barely put a foot wrong since winning his first match 5-0 against Deportivo La Coruna in January 2016. He has improved a squad that was floundering behind Barcelona and Atletico Madrid to the polished unit you will see against Juventus. We might not get fixated about Zidane in the way we have done about Pep Guardiola or Jose Mourinho. He doesn’t have the charisma of Jurgen Klopp or the raw emotion of Antonio Conte. But we cannot understate what he has achieved and what potentially beckons. Real have not won La Liga and the European Cup in the same season since 1958. If they beat Juventus, Zidane’s claim to be regarded as the greatest figure in their history will be strong. Above all, it would provide the conclusive answer to the opening question. What does he really do? He wins.