Zidane takes Real Madrid back to a cup final 13 months later
The last one they played in was the Club World Cup final
With Zinedine Zidane in charge, Real Madrid played in eight finals (nine games) and won them all. Now, they're back in another final, their ninth under the French coach. Los Blancos have had to wait 13 months this time, though, to get back in a final. Their last appearance in a final was against Al.Ain, a 4-1 win in 2018 in the Club World Cup final. Santiago Solari was in charge for that game, with Madrid in the tournament after Zidane had led them to the Champions League (beating Liverpool 3-1 in the final).
Zidane has had two spells as Madrid boss and both saw him arrive as a 'fireman' to replace sacked coaches (Benitez and then Solari). This is the third season he's had from the start, with two other campaigns starting halfway through -- if not later. Five years, but 50 months coaching, with a 10-month rest in the middle. He's taken charge of 185 games and won 124 of them, 67 percent. As for goals scored, the average is 2.5 a game (646) and 1.06 against (197).
SECOND FINAL VS. AT. MADRID
In his time at Madrid, he has won eight finals and nine trophies (one league title). Now he has his ninth final in the Spanish Super Cup against Atletico Madrid, a side he's already beaten in a final. Madrid, under Carlo Ancelotti with Zidane as his assistant, beat Atletico in the 2014 Champions League final (4-1 after extra-time) but it was under Zidane in 2016 that they beat Atletico again in the same competition, winning on penalties.
The titles won by Real Madrid with Zidane on the bench are: three Champions Leagues (against Atletico, Juventus and Liverpool), A Spanish Super Cup (against Barcelona), two European Super Cups (against Sevilla and Manchester United) and two Club World Cups. The contrast is that save the Club World Cup, which they were in thanks to Zidane, Madrid won nothing when the Frenchman left for 10 months. They lost to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey, Ajax in the Champions League and were miles off the pace in La Liga when he finally returned.
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