The Real Champs
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Real Madrid: Top 5 Greatest Managers in Club History

By Prasanna Baidya

Real Madrid, Jose Mourinho (Photo credit should read DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP via Getty Images)
Real Madrid, Jose Mourinho (Photo credit should read DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Real Madrid Coach Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane of Real Madrid(Photo by Metin Pala/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) /

2. Zinedine Zidane

The French World Cup winner has cemented his place in Real Madrid history books as a player and now as a coach. The Champions League winner for Los Blancos as a player took charge of the first team and brought unprecedented European success to the club as a manager.

Zinedine Zidane started on the Madrid bench under Carlo Ancelotti as an assistant coach. After learning from the Italian coach, Zidane moved on to coach Castilla to gain further experience. However, a short-lived Real Madrid career for Rafa Benetiz in the 2015/16 season meant that Zidane was fast-tracked into taking command of the first team.

The Frenchman had a fantastic first six months in the managerial seat. The club was 12 points behind league leaders Barcelona at the time he took the job, but the team rallied under him and finished the season with a point behind the Catalan club. Despite not winning the league, the momentum from the domestic front led the Merengues to their 11th UCL title.

Zidane’s team had one of their most remarkable campaigns winning la Liga and UCL double in the 2016/17 season; the first league and European cup double for the club in 59 years. Real Madrid also added UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup to their trophy cabinet. Los Blancos made history when they won their 3rd successive UCL trophy in the 2017/18 season. The first team in the UCL era to do so. In the process, Zidane also became the only manager to win three consecutive European titles.

Zidane’s record as Real Madrid manager is impeccable. He is yet to lose a cup final, winning nine out of nine and is the second most decorated manager in club history. He managed the Royal Whites into becoming a European Dynasty.

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