Is Zidane the Best Choice as Los Blancos New Manager?

Zinedine Zidane (Image credit: Real Madrid)

After Real Madrid finally decided to sack Rafa Benitez, the club’s hierarchy appointed legend Zinedine Zidane to take over the reigns as the Los Blancos new manager. Just seven months after getting the most prestigious managerial job, Benitez received the boot after a string of disappointing results against some of the top teams in La Liga, including a 0-4 home loss to arch rivals Barcelona.

Now Zidane is tasked with saving the season – or better to say, what can be saved considering the form of the team at the current stage. Real Madrid sit in third position, behind two of their biggest rivals: Barcelona (2nd) and Atletico Madrid (1st). But the main concern on many supporters’ minds will be if Zizou has got what it takes to be the Los Blancos new manager.

According to BBC Sport, the legendary World Cup, European Cup and Champions League winner stressed he will do all he can to make everything work. “I am going to put my heart and soul into this job so that everything works out well,” said Zidane, who has no previous managerial experience at the top level. He also added that him becoming manager is even better than the day that he signed for the team in 2001, saying, “I want to do my very best to ensure that this club at the end of the season will have a trophy. It’s an important day for me, it’s an emotional day, even more emotional than the day I signed as a player for the club. I will be working hard with all the players and I think it will go well. I will put all the heart I have into this job for the club. Thank you very much.”

Jose Mourinho (Image credit: UtopianTube)

He has been leading Real Madrid Castilla (B team) before he was appointed the Los Blancos new manager, so the concerns about his appointment are justified. Rumors in the media circulated that former boss Jose Mourinho could potentially come back to the club, however supposedly Real Madrid president Florentino Perez decided against this option considering a recent fan poll that indicated the majority of supporters were against this idea. Although Mourinho certainly is a controversial figure, he has the winning mentality coupled with great experience and a cabinet full of trophies. But then again, the prospect of “The Special One” becoming Los Blancos new manager probably didn’t bode well with certain players in the dressing room, as the former boss had clashes with a number of stars.

Carlo Ancelotti (Image credit: Real Madrid)

Carlo Ancelotti won the coveted 10th Champions League trophy with Real Madrid in 2014, however he was replaced by Rafa Benitez at the end of last season after not winning a single trophy, as their arch rivals Barcelona scooped all the titles. Many senior club players openly expressed their disappointment when Ancelotti got sacked, as they enjoyed a great working relationship with the Italian.

Even without enjoying great support, his CV alone speaks for itself; he won the Champions League three times and has claimed multiple national league titles across three countries. If he had not recently agreed to take over the reigns at Bayern Munich from the start of next season, we are sure he would have been considered as the potential candidate for the Los Blancos new manager. Although, to be honest, it would certainly be seen as a comical move by Perez – to bring back a manager that he has fired just seven months prior.

So comparing Zidane to some of the great bosses in the sport, certainly makes you wonder whether he can pull off anything actually. There will first be an adjustment period for both him and the players all the while there are great expectations and pressure coming from the club hierarchy. However, Perez has given assurances that Zizou is the right man for the job, stating, “Zidane knows better than anyone just what it means to lead the Real Madrid first-team squad. He’s fully aware of how tough and at the same time exciting this demanding position is.” Yeah….let’s wait and see when the results don’t go in their favor whether Perez will still back the football legend.

Here are some of the pictures that showcase Zidane’s career with Real Madrid leading up to him being appointed the Los Blancos new manager.