Zidane exits on his own terms

Zinedine Zidane’s shock resignation as Real Madrid coach yesterday took almost everyone by surprise — but it also made a huge amount of sense once he had explained a decision that looks a lot more positive for him personally than the club.

The aftermath of Madrid beating Liverpool 3-1 in Kiev last weekend to seal a third successive Champions League victory had been dominated by galacticos Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo talking about leaving the club, but nobody had even thought to ask Zidane if he was also considering his future.

The former galactico won nine trophies in just two and a half years in charge, making history last year when his Madrid side became the first team to retain the Champions League since the competition’s early 1990s expansion, then last weekend securing the first European Cup ‘three in a row’ since the mid-1970s.