Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane is a phenomenon who is better as a coach than he ever was as a player, according to his former Juventus team-mate Alessio Tacchinardi.
Zidane enjoyed a seamless transition to coaching after being promoted from Real Madrid s youth side in January 2016, replacing the dismissed Rafael Benitez and guiding the club to Champions League success the same season.
He then presided over another Champions League-winning campaign the following year, making Madrid the first club to retain their crown, while they also added a LaLiga title.
Things have been a little more difficult for them this season and they sit third in the league, 13 points adrift of rivals Barcelona, with Zidane – who won the Ballon d Or as a player – under pressure as a result.
Yet, despite their underwhelming season domestically, Madrid are still going strong in Europe and face Zidane s old club Juventus in the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday, with Tacchinardi of the opinion his former colleague is surpassing all expectations of those who knew him as a player.
Speaking to Omnisport, Tacchinardi said: I say Zidane is better as a manager [than a player] because as a player, Mother Nature helped him.
is back!!
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen)
He didn t need any tips, he entered the pitch and played like when he was a kid. Zidane was, and is, football on the pitch.
As a manager he became a strong man. He was withdrawn and shy, but if such a group [of players] follow you like this, it means you have improved your character.
Tactically he is good. He always finds the right move. He is stronger as a manager. He was a purebred as a player, but as a manager he inherited a catastrophic situation and won every cup.
He is a phenomenon. But I admit that I would never ever thought he could become a phenomenon as a manager.
If anyone who played with him swears he thought Zidane could become what he is now, this guy is a fool.
