Story byZinedine Zidane explains how he turned a broken Real Madrid side into Champions League kingsMadrid UniversalFri, January 16, 2026 at 8:20 AM UTC·3 min readFew managers are as deeply admired by Real Madrid supporters as Zinedine Zidane. Notably, when the Frenchman joined the club in January 2016, the situation was far from stable. A disappointing run under Rafael Benitez had left the squad short on confidence and rhythm. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhat followed, however, was one of the most extraordinary periods in football history, as Zidane guided Real Madrid to three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles. Looking back at his timeReflecting on his sudden promotion and the early doubts he faced, Zidane first recalled the moment he stepped into the role and how quickly reality hit him.“I remember we were preparing for a match against Ebro, and we got the chance to train with the first team. “When I started at Castilla, I had dreams of managing the first team, but after losing three matches when I started, I thought that would be the end of it.“I knew what I was getting myself into. We had the best team in the world.
