Real Madrid

Zinedine Zidane: 'I did not want to be a coach'

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 23 March 2018

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane reveals that he was not initially interested in becoming a head coach once he had retired from professional football.

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has revealed that he was not initially interested in becoming a head coach once he had retired from professional football.

Zidane turned out for Cannes, Bordeaux, Juventus and Real Madrid during a football career that spanned from 1989 to 2006.

The Frenchman stepped into management in 2014 when he took charge of Real Madrid Castilla, before replacing Rafael Benitez as head coach of the first team in 2016.

Zidane has won two Champions League crowns and one La Liga title since taking charge of Los Blancos, but the 45-year-old has said that he was not initially interested in that side of the game.

"I did not want to be a coach when I retired as a player, it was not something that interested me," Diario AS quotes Zidane as saying.

"I wanted to stop and do something else with my life, a new career but things change and I am happy to be in the position I currently am, it's a privilege.

"I spent two years as a manager [at Madrid's Castilla side] and three before that as a coach, so it has taken me five years to get to this level and prepare."

Zidane's future as Real Madrid boss is believed to be under the microscope due to Barcelona's current 15-point lead at the top of La Liga.