Brian Clough. Sir Bobby Robson. Johan Cruyff. Frank Rijkaard. Pep Guardiola. Antonio Conte. Some great footballers make great managers. Some, for varying reasons, don't. That is a mere footballing fact. Real Madrid are a club synonymous with success. We think of Di Stefano, Puskas, Butragueno, Del Bosque, Raul and Ronaldo. The have won La Liga thirty-two times and racked up nineteen Copa Del Rey triumphs. Eleven times they have lifted The European Cup. The Santiago Bernabeu is one of the most iconic stadia in Europe. They are arguably the biggest club in the world. There is a phenomenally rich history at Madrid and an insatiable, almost unquenchable desire to win, and win with a certain 'joie de vivre'. (They don't sign 'Galacticos' for nothing you know!) The processes put in place at such a club are all geared towards that next trophy, that next part of a new dynasty. The appointment of Zinedine Zidane as Head Coach was the final piece of a jigsaw that will see Real Madrid begin yet another generation of success.
All astute football scholars can appreciate the genius of Zidane the player. Two-footed, graceful, elegant with an incredible football brain, he could almost bring a match to a standstill he was so far ahead of the play in his mind and with the ball at his feet. But what of Zidane the coach? The manager?
During Jose Mourinho's time at Real Madrid, it was he who brought Zidane back to the club in an official capacity in 2010, in an almost advisory role initially with a view to being a director of the club in the future. Zidane's knowledge of Madrid and the level of talent he possessed as a player inevitably led Mourinho to bring him closer to the first team, advising players, attending training sessions and conducting an ambassadorial role in the media. Zidane, a hugely popular, well-respected figurehead to front a new dawn at the club. The appointment was a very astute move by Mourinho and the Madrid hierarchy, and one that they'd have been a little foolish to ignore. The foundations were in place for Zidane to learn and develop off the field, both behind the scenes and on the football side of the club.
After Carlo Ancelotti was appointed Head Coach at Real Madrid, he promoted Zinedine Zidane making him his Assistant Manager; another step up the ladder of progression for the Frenchman in his ultimate quest towards the top job. Despite Ancelotti delivering 'La Decima' in 2014, the trophy that both the club and its supporters craved most of all, he was relieved of his duties at the end of the season and replaced by Rafael Benitez. Benitez struggled badly at Madrid and after only twenty-five matches was also dismissed, paving the way for 'Zizou' to take the top job. The biggest and most demanding job in world football. Promoted once again, this time from Madrid's Castilla side, the appointment of Zidane was made on 4th January 2016. He penned a contract until the end of the 2017/18 season.
It was now that Zidane could finally get to work, and his impact was immediate. In the first league game, Real crushed Deportivo 5-0 and they ended Barcelona's thirty-nine match unbeaten run during 'El Clasico' a few months after ZIdane took over the reins. The side marched on in Europe, sweeping aside all before them as they reached another European Cup Final, once again facing arch-rivals Atletico. With Zidane calling on all his knowledge and experience of winning trophies at such a high level, both domestically and internationally, he successfully delivered Real Madrid's eleventh European crown by beating their inner city rivals 5-3 on penalties after a high octane 1-1 draw in the San Siro. This coming only six months after taking over a side seemingly in a state of transition. Real Madrid were European Champions once again, and at the summit of the football world.
At the time of writing, Zidane has been in charge at The Bernabeu for fifty matches, winning thirty-seven, drawing eleven and losing just twice. His team are currently unbeaten in thirty-four matches, which is astonishingly, a club record. Madrid's directors can surely only marvel at what 'Zizou' has achieved so far at the club. The healthy relationship with the great man seems to be strengthening with each passing game and his players clearly feel the same. Take Sergio Ramos as an example...
"Zidane has this kind of magic that shone when he was a player and now as a coach. Since he has arrived, things have changed for the better. It is all positive now and the ambience is good, which helps the team's dynamic. There is harmony and empathy, different to what we had before. The merit goes to Zizou's work. We are all proud he is the leader of this ship, and of his work, both tactical and physical".
A glowing endorsement from one of his most experienced chieftains who has seen it all and won the lot. You get the feeling that Zidane will get the time to mould the squad to his own liking. He has the strong backing of current President Florentino Perez, club directors and undoubtedly, his players. He is only just beginning his managerial journey. The journey that was already earmarked for him after his appointment by Jose Mourinho. What a place to start and what a start it's been. It is still very early to say whether Zidane the manager can match the achievements of Zidane the player but judging by the opening few months of his tenure at Real Madrid, who would bet against another great player going on to become a great manager? We will all be watching with great interest.
Zidane The Manager
Thursday 8 December 2016
At the time of writing, Sunderland have been, not so much rocked, but disrupted by the news that Yann M'Vila will not be joining the club in January, something that seemed increasingly likely ever since deadline day passed without an apparent concrete resolution to the whole transfer debacle.
I found the brief statement issued by Sunderland as slightly bizarre. However, what it does suggest is that both parties agreed to cancel whatever sort of deal was put in place for January. The summer saga dragged on and on, and left a bitter taste in the mouths of many Sunderland fans, me included. The player wanted to come, the fans wanted him to sign but the club haggled and haggled over the fee, £6m, £7m, £8m... we'll never know. Strange considering we spent £18m on Didier N'dong and Paddy McNair. At least now the situation has been put to bed, with both clubs, the player and David Moyes swiftly moving on.
More importantly we head to Swansea on Saturday buoyed by our third win in four matches. The performance against Leicester was the best we've produced this season, particularly the chances that were created in the opening half hour. The front three looked dangerous, complimenting each other in various ways, their pace and power a constant threat to Leicester's back four. The loss of Duncan Watmore for the remainder of the season could not be more ill-timed. The young winger has benefited massively from a run in the side, and Sunderland will certainly miss his work rate and energy on the right hand side. The club's luckless run of injuries seems to show no sign of relenting.
If there are any positives to be taken, injuries do present an opportunity for others to stake a claim for a run in the team. Adnan Januzaj isn't a like for like replacement for Watmore, but he does possess more creativity and the ability to play that killer pass. Wahbi Khazri's ingenuity and dead ball expertise is also an option, but both players have yet to get their season properly up and running. Seb Larsson could come into the side on the right, and he's maybe a more likely option as his work rate and experience may be vital at Swansea, particularly in an away fixture. David Moyes must also decide whether Jan Kirchhoff will start the game, a much nicer headache to have.
I always feel that grabbing a point on the road in any Premier League fixture is welcomed, and given the nature of our plight in recent seasons, points in general have been hard to come by! Heading to Wales this Saturday does present itself with an opportunity for Sunderland to really get at a Swansea side leaking goals, defending poorly and looking bereft of any real game plan. Bob Bradley is the under pressure captain of a rudderless ship at The Liberty Stadium and I think Sunderland are in the position to take full advantage of that. The players and supporters are heading into this game with renewed vigor and confidence, so much so that I'm going for an away victory. I feel there'll be goals, and we've got enough to come out on top, especially with Jermain Defoe on fire with 8 goals so far this season.
Verdict: Away win, 2-3
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