On the eve of winning his third major trophy (2016 FIFA Club World Cup) in less than a year in charge of Real Madrid, Zinedine Zidane’s rise to fame as manager has earned him a nomination of FIFA World Coach of the Year for Men’s Football and was shortlisted alongside Claudio Ranieri and Fernando Santos to win this prestigious honor. But can he be termed among the world’s best managers yet?
The Frenchman was world class as a footballer who won many majors including FIFA World Cup 1998, UEFA European Football Championship 2000 for his country and also UEFA Champions League, Serie A, La Liga and a number of Cups throughout his club career with the likes of Bordeaux, Juventus and Real Madrid. However, his association with Los Blancos reestablished after 4 years of retirement when the decorated midfielder was appointed as a special adviser to Real Madrid’s first team after a request from the then coach Jose Mourinho.
His excellence earned him an appointment as their new sporting director and a couple of years later, he was promoted to assistant coach to former boss Carlo Ancelotti. June 2014 was significant in his post player days as he was named as the manager of Real Madrid reserves (Castilla).
Zidane was highly applauded for his on-field excellence and intelligence during his playing career. However, he has implemented those attributes to enhance his managerial skills as well. The dismissal of Rafael Benitez earned him a sudden promotion as Real Madrid coach and he did a fair enough job, defying all odds. He was appointed in an adverse situation when Real were failing to live up to the expectations under Benitez.
He brought them back in winning ways, controlled a star-studded dressing room with personality, discipline and dignity. Zidane, who was perhaps deemed not good enough tactically in his early fledgeling managerial career, has shown impressive match reading aspect and pragmatism.
He suffered only two defeats in the previous campaign and eventually won the prestigious UEFA Champions League 2015-16, defeating local rivals Atletico Madrid. Also, they lifted the UEFA Super Cup 2016 beating La Liga counterparts Sevilla. Real Madrid are still unbeaten this campaign and lifted the 2016 FIFA Club World Cup, defeating Japanese club Kashima Antlers by banking on a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick. Also, they are well ahead of Barcelona in La Liga and are favourites to finally win the title since they last won it under Jose Mourinho.
Zidane has not only used his best resources but also kept his faith on the likes of Casemiro and Mateo Kovačić who were lacking game-time and were planning to move elsewhere in order to have regular game-time. Unlike other transfer windows, Real did not focus much on business and only brought in Alvaro Morata from Juventus using a buy-back clause. He dealt the significant injury absentees with ease and injected “fight till the end” mentality in his men that resulted in a number of significant results for Los Blancos.
Zidane has all the attributes and qualities to be hailed among the world’s best managers. But this will be too early to draw any conclusion as it’s yet to be seen how he handles his side when they will go through a rough patch in near future. Although Real Madrid have a record of axing their managers ruthlessly, this should not be the case with Zidane who has earned his time to prosper as a world class manager in coming years.
