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Football Insider

The Zinedine Zidane Way: Unlocking Real Madrid's Success

Former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has shared valuable insights into his successful tenure at Los Blancos amidst the recent managerial changes. Dive into the secrets behind his three Champions League victories and two La Liga titles.

The Zinedine Zidane Way: Unlocking Real Madrid's Success

Former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has offered some insight into his success with Los Blancos. The Frenchman won the Champions League three times during his time in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu as well as claiming two La Liga titles. Madrid are currently in the midst of a difficult season after sacking Xabi Alonso midway through his first campaign as boss and replacing him with Alvaro Arbeloa.Real Madrid have been plunged into chaos this week after parting company with manager Alonso. The former midfielder departs after less than eight months in the role and has been replaced by Arbeloa. Defeat to Barcelona in the final of the Spanish Super Cup proved to be the end for Alonso, with the club confirming the news in a statement that read: "Real Madrid CF announces that, by mutual agreement between the club and Xabi Alonso, it has been decided to end his time as first team coach. Xabi Alonso will always have the affection and admiration of all Madrid fans because he is a Real Madrid legend and has always represented the values of our club. Real Madrid will always be his home. Our club thanks Xabi Alonso and his entire technical team for their work and dedication during this time, and wishes them the best of luck in this new stage of their lives."Zidane enjoyed two stints as Real Madrid boss and brought plenty of silverware to the Santiago Bernabeu. He has now discussed his time at Real Madrid on the YouTube chanel of Hamidou Msaidie, one of his staff members at Madrid, and revealed what it takes to be successful: "At Real Madrid, we were at the players' disposal. For me, that's what makes something strong; you're there for the player. If you haven't understood that, you can't last in this profession. We're there to support them; you have to show that you're there for them. For the dressing room to buy into what you want to implement, they have to like us If the players don't agree with everything you put in place, the training, all that... something will always be missing. With us, they really enjoyed themselves on all levels, I think. We instilled a lot of confidence in the players. They'd gone through a bit of a rough patch and needed to regain some confidence, fitness, everything. We put a framework in place so they could get all that back. When a player is competitive, happy to train and go out to play matches, you're bound to win all three Champions Leagues."Looking for smarter football bets? Get expert previews, data-driven predictions & winning insights with GOAL Tips on Telegram. Join our growing community now!Arbeloa suffered a nightmare start to his tenure as Real Madrid boss after seeing his team dumped out of the Copa del Rey by lowly Albacete. Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham were among a host of big names left out of the squad by Arbeloa and were missed as Los Blancos were beaten 3-2. Yet the new coach insisted he had no regrets after the match: "At this club a draw is bad, a tragedy, so imagine a defeat like this. I’m responsible, I take the decisions: the team, how we want to play, the substitutions. We’ll try to recover our morale and physically, and improve for the game on Saturday [against Levante]. I was convinced the squad was the right one, and I still think that. We have an extraordinary squad, with great players. It isn’t easy for them to do everything I’ve asked of them after just one day [of preparation]. We have a lot of players to get back to their best physical level. I don’t regret anything. I’d pick the same team again.”Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reportingReal Madrid's defeat has already led to speculation that Arbeloa may not last long in the Real Madrid hotseat. Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has already been mentioned as a possible replacement, with the German believed to be willing to consider a proposal from the Spanish giants.

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Zidane's Recipe for Success at Real Madrid

Zinedine Zidane, the esteemed former manager of Real Madrid, has lifted the veil on the key principles that underpinned his triumphs at the Santiago Bernabeu. With an impressive haul of three Champions League titles and two La Liga triumphs, Zidane's dominance at Real Madrid cannot be understated. In a recent interview on the YouTube channel of Hamidou Msaidie, one of his staff members at Madrid, Zidane emphasized the importance of being there for the players. He highlighted that becoming a successful coach requires being wholly dedicated to supporting and understanding the needs of the players. Zidane stressed the significance of fostering a positive relationship with the dressing room to ensure alignment and commitment from the players. By instilling confidence, creating a supportive environment, and implementing a structured framework, Zidane was able to guide his squad to unprecedented success.

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Arbeloa's Rocky Start as Real Madrid Manager

On the flip side, Alvaro Arbeloa, the newly appointed manager of Real Madrid following the departure of Xabi Alonso, faced a challenging start to his managerial tenure. Real Madrid suffered a jolting defeat in the Copa del Rey against Albacete, intensifying the pressure on Arbeloa. Despite notable absences in the squad and tactical decisions coming under scrutiny, Arbeloa remained resolute in his approach post-match. Expressing a belief in the squad's capabilities and defending his choices, Arbeloa voiced unwavering determination to lead the team in the right direction. However, the defeat raised concerns about Arbeloa's managerial suitability and sparked speculations regarding his longevity in the Real Madrid hotseat.

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Future Uncertainties and Managerial Speculations

Real Madrid's recent managerial upheaval has set tongues wagging, with suggestions emerging of a potential managerial change. Speculations already abound linking former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp to the Real Madrid managerial position, indicating a willingness on Klopp's part to entertain an offer from the Spanish giants. The uncertainty surrounding Arbeloa's future and the mounting expectations at Real Madrid add further intrigue to the unfolding narrative of the club's managerial dynamics.

Published on Jan 15, 2026