“He has everything it takes to be better than Zidane.”Alessandro Del Piero on Pirlo’s appointment as Juve coach.

Ex Italian footballer, Alessandro Del Piero has backed his former team-mate Andrea Pirlo to be successful in his new manageria role in Juventus. The 45 year-old is confident that the midfield maestro can even do better than his counterpart at Real Madrid, Zinedine Zidane. 

Pirlo was announced as the new coach of seria A side, Juventus following the sack of ex manager, Maurizio Sarri after their Champions League last-16 exit to Lyon on Friday.

Piero spoke of his surprise about Pirlo’s appointment to Sky Sport Italia, ‘To be honest, I wouldn’t have bet on him becoming the coach. It’s a surprise for me too, I was already pleased for him taking the Under-23 role and thought that was the right move for him, but he’s skipped ahead, so I can only wish him luck. I think the general perception of former players who become coaches is changing in Italy. Before, there was this need to go through a long process in the lower leagues to learn the trade, but in recent years we’ve seen Filippo and Simone Inzaghi succeed, plus Gennaro Gattuso. They were great players and started straight away with great teams.’

He is also confident that Pirlo can also be reverred like Zidane at the Bernabeu.

‘It’s not a fair comparison, because Zizou had already worked with the Real Madrid youth team and then was Carlo Ancelotti’s assistant manager, but Pirlo has everything it takes to do even better than Zidane, He already knows the club, the players, the directors, so I think they communicated in a very clear way.’

"I'm not stupid and he's intelligent". Zidane plays down Ronaldo rift

Real Madrid boss, Zinedine Zidane has denied rumours of a rift with
Cristiano Ronaldo following the latter’s substitution at
the 72nd minute of Real Madrid’s game with Las
Palmas yesterday.
The Bernabeu star was visibly angry and
reportedly told him off in hushed tones as he was subbed off, an incident that
generated attention in the media but the ex France international insists both parties are cool. 

“Everything is normal. Cristiano wasn’t the
only one angry after the game but it’s over now and we are thinking about tomorrow’s
game,”
the Frenchman said
“I understand the level of attention it
received but it is what it is. I took the decision in the best (interests) of
the player and that’s not going to change anything.
“We
have spoken about it. I’m not dumb and he’s intelligent. We all have the same
objectives, the two of us and the rest of the team

Zinedine Zidane's headbutt experience changed my life – Marco Materzatti

Marco Materzatti reveals what he really said to Zinedine Zidane [LEquipe]
Zinedine Zidane’s headbutt incident happened exactly 10 years ago. Marco Materazzi, the Italian defender who was at the end of the infamous tangle has opened up on what really went down that day. according to him, the incident which happened at the 2006 World Cup exposed him to more media attention.
He told L’Equipe“Since that day, I received interview requests from around the world. 
“I decided to publish a book about this event because everyone asked me what I had told him (Zidane) to react like that. My words were stupid but did not deserve that reaction. In any neighborhood of Rome, Naples, Turin, Milan Paris, I hear much more serious things. ” He added.
“I talked about his sister not his mother, like I have read in some newspapers. My mother died while I was a teenager, I would never insult his. But it doesn’t matter, i don’t hold any grudges and never will” he said.

Koke, Zidane named La Liga player and coach of the month of April


Atletico Madrid’s Koke and Real Madrid manager, Zinedine Zidane have been named La Liga player and coach for the month of April. The Spanish footballer won the prize for netting two goals and giving four assists after his side recorded 6 wins in 6 games.  

The ex French international on the other hand  picked the trophy after 6 wins in 6 games including last el clásico.

Zinedine Zidane's son joins Real Madrid's first team in training

MADRID, SPAIN - JANUARY 04:  Real Madrid CF president Florentino Perez poses for a picture with Zinedine Zidane as new Real Madrid head coach sourrounded by his family, wife Veronique Zidane and sons (L-R) Theo Zidane, Elyaz Zidane Fernandez, Enzo Fernandez and Luca Zinedine Zidane Fernandez  at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on January 4, 2016 in Madrid, Spain.  (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)
According to reports, Real Madrid manager, Zinedine Zidane’s son, Enzo along with Martin Odegaard, Marcos Llorente and Carols Abad  have been temporarily called up to Real Madrid’s first team to replace the likes of Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale, Marcelo and Pepe who are all injured. This will be the first time the 20 year-old will train for the Blancos with his father in charge.

5 things Zinedine Zidane must do to become a success as Real Madrid manager

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Zinedine Zidane had an emphatic start as Real manager on Saturday as the Blancos thrashed Deportivo 5- 0. However, i saw this very interesting article, written by Jason Pettigrove on Sportskeeda.com and i had to share on the blog.  He’s outlined 5 things the Frenchman should do to have a successful spell at the Bernabeu.

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1. Rid the dressing room of egos – If there is one thing that characterizes any Real Madrid team, it is the amount of egos that are in play in the dressing room.If Zizou wants harmony at the Santiago Bernabeu, then he needs to make abundantly clear that there is only one boss. And his players are looking at him.

2. Not be swayed by Florentino Perez – Florentino Perez is an omnipresent figure at Real Madrid. From exerting influence by having a say in team selection to taking players aside to remind them of their responsibilities, the president’s penchant for undermining his managers is legendary. Zidane needs to have the gumption to face up to the may who has given him the biggest of breaks and, frankly, tell it as it is. If the Frenchman can persuade his paymaster to take a back seat, in order that he can concentrate solely on matters in hand, then Zidane might just have half a chance at success.

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3. Win a trophy this season– Only the Champions League and La Liga are possibilities for Zidane in his opening campaign. If Real were to win the second El Clasico of the season and other results come and go on a like for like basis, then only two points will separate these two Spanish behemoths. It’s not beyond the realms of possibility for either to be dropping more points than that between now and the end of the campaign. 
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4. Find the right midfield blend– The real issue isn’t BBC {Bale,Benzema,Cristiano), the real issue is between the two, in the middle of the park. Isco is unhappy and needs to be sold if he is unhappy at an almost permanent tenure on the substitutes bench. Mateo Kovacic also needs to understand his role more fully. The mercurial Croatian talent is simply far too good to be sat on the bench.

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5. Sell Ronaldo -No longer the force he once was, it is becoming clearer by the game that the ex-Manchester United man should be sold. If the intention is to build a team around Gareth Bale in any event, then now or in the summer at the latest are the most opportune times to enter the market. Ronaldo can still command a hefty fee at this moment and there’ll be no shortage of takers. 
Read full article here

Zinedine Zidane addresses Ronaldo's exit rumours

Real Madrid Transfer News: Zinedine Zidane Talks Cristiano Ronaldo Exit RumoursReal Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has denied the possibility of Cristiano Ronaldo leaving the Bernabeu, describing him as the soul of the team. The ex France international made this clear during a chat with Spanish media outlet, AS ahead of the Blancos’s game with Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday.


Asked about Ronaldo and PSG, the Frenchman noted: Cristiano is more than non-transferable. He is the soul of the team. He’s going nowhere.” AS English tweeted.

Madrid insane to appoint Zinedine Zidane – Hitzfeld

Madrid mad to appoint Zidane, says Hitzfeld

Former Bayern Munich coach, Ottmar Hitzfeld has described Real Madrid’s decision to appoint Zinedine Zidane as the club’s new manager as madness. Speaking in an interview with Swiss daily, Blick, Hitzfeld said the ex France international is only living off his illustrious name as a player.

“For him (Zidane) it is like winning the lottery jackpot. It is madness. Zidane has proved nothing as a coach and he is now in charge of the biggest stars in the world. It is an incredibly difficult task although I hope it goes well for him,” the 66 year-old said.

Rafael Benitez sacked as Real Madrid's coach.

Hiring and sacking coaches at will. Real Madrid have dismissed the club’s manager,  Rafael Benitez,  seven months after hiring him. The club’s B team coach,  Zinedine Zidane has replaced him.
Rafael Benítez’s competitive record as Real Madrid manager:
Games: 25
Won: 17
Drawn: 5
Lost: 3
Win rate: 68%
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