Pro Sports

Another major trophy in Zidane's young coaching career

Posted June 04, 2017 7:00 am

By TALES AZZONI

Real Madrid's head coach Zinedine Zidane celebrates with the trophy at the end of the Champions League soccer final between Juventus and Real Madrid at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, Saturday, June 3, 2017. Real won the match 4-1. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) The Associated Press

CARDIFF, Wales (AP) - Not a bad start for Zinedine Zidane.

Only 18 months into his first head coaching job, the France great is lifting his fifth trophy with Real Madrid.

Zidane managed the Spanish club to a second successive Champions League crown with a commanding 4-1 win over Juventus on Saturday, adding to triumphs in the Spanish league, the Club World Cup, and the European Super Cup.

He became the first coach to win back-to-back titles in the Champions League era.

"If you had told me that I would have won all of this as a coach, I wouldn't have believed it," Zidane said. "I'm happy, I'm incredibly satisfied."

As a player, he was in two consecutive Champions League finals with Juventus, losing both times, including to Madrid in 1998. He finally won the Champions League as a Madrid player in 2002, scoring an amazing volley in the final against Bayer Leverkusen in Glasgow, Scotland.

One of Madrid's greatest players, Zidane was an assistant to Carlo Ancelotti when Madrid won the Champions League in 2014.

After a stint guiding Madrid B, Zidane replaced coach Rafa Benitez when the team was struggling in early 2016, and quickly got it back on track.

He used different formations and successfully resorted to rotating his players to keep them fresh at the important moments of the season, including Cristiano Ronaldo, who was rested like never before. Ronaldo scored twice in the final, finishing the season with 16 goals in his last 10 games.

Zidane has only one year left on his contract, but is widely expected to remain at the team's helm.

"Now we have to enjoy all of this," he said. "Then we will get some rest and later we will start thinking about next season."

___

More AP Champions League coverage: http://apne.ws/2lgcPZm

___

Tales Azzoni on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tazzoni

Real Madrid's head coach Zinedine Zidane gestures during the Champions League final soccer match between Juventus and Real Madrid at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, Saturday June 3, 2017. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) The Associated Press

Real Madrid's head coach Zinedine Zidane is embraced by his son Luca at the end of the Champions League final soccer match between Juventus and Real Madrid at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, Saturday June 3, 2017. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland) The Associated Press

Article Comments

Article Categories
Content Providers MLS Pro Sports Soccer Sports Sports Leagues Sports Types

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.