Zidane quits Real Madrid

MADRID, Spain (AP):

At least as a coach, Zinedine Zidane is going out on top. After ending his playing career by headbutting an opponent in the 2006 World Cup final, Zidane is closing out his stint with Real Madrid with the fresh image of him lifting the UEFA Champions League trophy.

Zidane made the surprise announcement that he was leaving Madrid on Thursday, less than a week after leading the team to its third straight Champions League title.

"You have to know when to quit," said the 45-year-old Zidane, who was Madrid's coach for two and half seasons. "This is the right moment. I am a winner and if I don't see it clearly that we will keep winning, it's time for a change."

It was an unexpected move by the former great who won nine titles as Madrid coach, including the three Champions League titles, one Spanish league title, one Spanish Super Cup, two UEFA Super Cups and two Club World Cups.

KEEP WINNING

"This club needs a change to keep winning," Zidane said. "With me it would have been complicated to keep winning."

"It was a completely unexpected decision," Madrid president Florentino Perez said of Zidane's departure. "Today is a sad day for me, for the fans and for all the people who work at the club. I wish we could always have Zidane by our side, but we know that when Zizou makes a decision, the only thing we can do is to accept it and respect it."

Zidane spoke little about his future but said he is not immediately looking to coach another club. Perez also did not talk much about the club's search for a new coach, although several names are being talked about in local media, including Mauricio Pochettino, Antonio Conte, Joachim Loew and Arsene Wenger.

Zidane said there wasn't a specific reason that led him to his decision, but apparently he saw enough signs to know things were not all perfect despite the good results.

"After three years, (the club) needs a change in speech, a new work methodology," he said.