CONFIRMED: Zinedine Zidane to leave Real Madrid

Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane has called an unscheduled press conference. The Frenchman guided Real to their 13th European success last weekend as they beat Liverpool 3-1 in Kiev. It is Zidane's third Champions League title in as many years after replacing Rafa Benitez in January 2016. Zidane offered little suggestion that he would be walking away from the club after the win over Liverpool but he held a meeting with Florentino Perez on Thursday. And now Los Blancos head coach has confirmed his decision. "I love this club, I love the president. He gave me the opportunity to come as a player and now manager and I am eternally grateful. But we have to change," Zidane confirmed Real Madrid president Florentino Perez said: "After winning the Champions League, the decision was unexpected. It is a sad day for me, the fans and the players. But he knows I wanted him as a player and as a manager. I wanted him to stay forever and I wanted to convince him to stay. But I know it was his final decision. All I want to do is remind him that this club is his home and family." To the question why Zidane is leaving now when Real Madrid have registered their third consecutive Champions League victory under him, the coach answered: "It can be a ‘see you later’. Madrid has given me everything. I will be close to this club all my life. But the decision, for many, doesn’t make sense. But it does to me. It is the moment to make a change. I think it is the right decision for everyone. I have to thank the fans for all their support and love. We have had complicated moments of the season, when you are not at your best, the fans push you and that made us better," the manager concluded his speech.

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