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Home , Julen Lopetegui, La Liga, Marco Materazzi, Santiago Solari

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TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2021 Zidane says he quit Real because of club’s lack of ‘faith’

MADRID: resigned as were sacked in quick Real Madrid coach because he felt the succession. Spanish club no longer had any confi- dence in him, he wrote in an open letter ‘Hurt me’ yesterday. “I’m leaving because I feel In his letter, Zidane said he left the the club no longer has the faith in me I club in 2018 because it needed “a dif- need, and doesn’t offer me the support ferent voice to keep itself at the very to build something in the medium or top” but this time “things are different”. long term,” the Frenchman wrote in the “I want what we have achieved together letter published in the sports daily AS. to be respected. I would have liked in “I am a born winner and I was here recent months my relationship with the to win trophies, but beyond this there club and with the president (Florentino are human beings, emotions, life and I Perez) to have been a little different have the feeling that these things have from that of other coaches,” Zidane not been valued, that it has not been said. understood that this is also how the “I wasn’t asking for privileges, of dynamic of a great club is maintained,” course not, but a little more memory,” he said. “But everything I built on a dai- added Zidane. “It hurt me a great deal ly basis, what I brought to the relation- when I would read in the press, after a ship with the players...has been forgot- loss, that they were going to fire me if I ten.” did not win the next match. “I’m leaving, but I’m not jumping ship “It hurt me and the entire team and I’m not tired of coaching,” he because these messages which were added. Real had a disappointing , intentionally leaked to the media creat- finishing second in behind ed negative interferences with the neighbors Atletico Madrid and losing to squad, they created doubts and misun- eventual winners Chelsea in the derstandings.” Zidane’s contract with Champions League semi-finals. Real was set to expire in 2022 but he MADRID: In this file photo taken on December 30, 2019 Real Madrid’s French coach Zinedine Zidane (center) talks to his players during It was the first time that the 13-time had repeatedly refused to confirm he a public training session at the training ground in Valdebebas, Madrid. — AFP European champions had failed to win would still be at the club next season. a trophy in 11 seasons. It is the second years in Madrid has been the most beau- percent”. Zidane’s resignation roiled Munich have replaced with time that Zidane has resigned as Real ‘Always be grateful’ tiful thing that has ever happened to me in an already turbulent coaching picture Julian Nagelsmann. There is doubt Madrid coach. The 1998 World Cup He has a history of making surprise life and I know that I owe it exclusively to at the continent’s elite clubs. about the future of winner first took the helm in January announcements: as a player, he initially Florentino Perez who bet on me in 2001,” One of Zidane’s former clubs, who became coach at last 2016 and guided Real an unprecedent- announced his retirement from interna- Zidane said in the letter. Juventus, has replaced August, while , ed hat-trick of Champions League tional football in 2004 before coming “I say it from the heart, I will with Massimiliano Allegri. Antonio who took over at Paris Saint-Germain titles as well as a La Liga title in 2017, back for the 2006 World Cup, after which always be grateful to the ‘presi’ for it. Conte, a former team-mate of Zidane’s in January, is reportedly being courted before abruptly quitting on May 31, he retired for good following his red card Always,” he added. Zidane also had a at Juventus, quit after by former employer Tottenham 2018. Less than a year later he for headbutting ’s Marco Materazzi message to Real fans, saying he want- leading them to the title. Hotspur and has also been linked with returned after and as France lost the final. “Spending 20 ed them to know that “we gave 100 champions Bayern Madrid. — AFP