Football: Zidane resigns as Real Madrid manager

By Satuk Bugra Kutlugun

ANKARA

Zinedine Zidane has announced Thursday that he will not be managing Real Madrid next season.

In an afternoon press conference in Madrid, Zidane, 45, said the Champions League title holders "need a change to keep winning".

"I made the decision not to continue as coach of Real Madrid, it's a strange moment, but this team needs a change to keep winning, it needs another speech, another work methodology and that's why I made this decision," the Frenchman told reporters.

Also attending the press conference, Real Madrid chairman Florentino Perez said: "It is an unexpected decision."

"After winning a European Cup it is an unexpected decision, but we can only take the decision and respect it," the chairman said.

Zinedine Zidane is the only manager to ever win the UEFA Champions League three times in a row. He also lifted the La Liga trophy in 2016/2017 season.