Real Madrid Castilla

Zinedine Zidane: 'I can learn a lot from Pep Guardiola'

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 15 February 2015

Real Madrid Castilla manager Zinedine Zidane is aiming to copy the blueprint set by Pep Guardiola in order to become a "world-class coach" in the years to come.

Zinedine Zidane has revealed that Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola is the man who inspires him to become a managerial great.

The Frenchman, who retired from football at the end of the 2006 World Cup, is currently in charge of Real Madrid Castilla in the Spanish Segunda Grupo 2 division.

He has previously spent time working as Carlo Ancelotti's assistant manager at the Bernabeu and has also worked in an advisory role during Jose Mourinho's time in charge of Los Blancos, although Zidane credits Guardiola as being his biggest influence.

"Bayern were always a good team but now the club has arrived on a global level, and that is mainly due to Pep, who has given the club an extra touch of class," the 42-year-old told Die Welt. "He brings his own take on the game and is making the difference at Bayern.

"He is a great coach. I knew him as a player, as we often played against one another at the highest level, but now I am a rookie coach and he is an experienced, world-class coach.

"He is doing a fantastic job at Bayern, as he did at Barcelona. I'm fascinated by how he works and I can learn a lot from him."

Zidane's Castilla side are currently sitting in second place in the third tier of Spanish football.