3 possible reasons why Zidane left Real Madrid

It is official now. Zinedine Zidane has renounced his position as Real Madrid's manager and has called it a day on his triumphant stint at the club. He leaves the club a hero after having taken Los Blancos to 3 successive UEFA Champions League titles.

Speaking at the Press Conference, Zidane said,

"I've taken the decision to not continue next year as #RealMadrid Coach. I made this decision because I love this club, I love (Florentino Perez) and I am grateful towards him."

The news of his resignation is a bit shocking and it will be interesting to see what the future holds for the club as well as Zizou himself.

Even though Real Madrid were unstoppable in the Champions League, their domestic form was nothing worthy of commendation. In fact, winning the Champions League has helped tuck their ineptitude out of plain sight.

Without further ado, let's take a look at the 3 possible reasons why Zidane has left Real Madrid.

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#3 He leaves the club a hero

Zidane leaves Real Madrid as a champion

Zidane had etched his name in Real Madrid history as a player and has now left an indelible mark on the club as their manager. Zidane took over as an interim manager and won the Champions League every time he tried.

In 2 and a half years, he has won 9 trophies. These include 3 Champions League titles, 1 La Liga title, 1 Spanish Super Cup, 2 UEFA Super Cups and 2 Club World Cups.

Those are staggering achievements for a manager in top-flight football and Zidane managed to accomplish all of it inside 3 years.

After facing a lot of criticism at the start of the season for not being a tactical crackerjack, the Frenchman turned the club's fortune around with a third consecutive Champions League title.

It is best to leave the club on a high and Zidane knows it best. And that makes sense because...

#2 He took over as an interim manager and the football has not really evolved

Zidane has had a great team to coach at Real Madrid

"I've taken the decision to not continue next year as #RealMadrid Coach. I made this decision because I love this club, I love (Florentino Perez) and I am grateful towards him."

That's what Zidane said at the press conference. If you love the club and has been successful in your term as the manager, why would you want to leave? Maybe Zidane himself knows that staying there is not in his or the club's best interest.

Zizou has been thrown brick bats at for relying on the brilliance of his players to buoy his team towards titles and while that is a bit hyperbolic, I can't help but say that the football that's being played by Real Madrid hasn't really evolved over the past couple of years.

Zidane's Real Madrid hit hard on the counter and they have players suited to do just that. Zidane has done well in so far as letting his players express themselves on the field. Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Marcelo, Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema have all flourished as a result.

Though saying that Zidane lacks the tactical nous to helm a club like Real Madrid is rather inane, it is about time that the club adopted a philosophy before stagnation sets in.

Madrid have been able to churn out results on the big nights but their failings in the La Liga points towards a glaring problem that they have to address sooner rather than later if they're to keep themselves head and shoulders above the rest of the Spanish sides, many of whom are in a process of evolution themselves.

#1 Fresh challenges

Zidane has won almost everything at Real Madrid

Zidane took over at Real Madrid as an interim manager. Now he has signed out of the greatest interim stint ever in the history of the club. However, you can't fault Zidane for wanting to break out of his comfort zone.

Real Madrid is a club that Zidane knows inside out by now. He has players who can still grind out results all by themselves. As a result, Zidane's shortcomings from tactical perspectives have largely remained veiled. And if he is to pursue a career as a manager, Zidane will need to meet adversity head-on.

There is no space for that at Real Madrid. The margin for error at such a big club is minimal as well. Hence, it makes sense for Zidane to move out of the Santiago Bernabeu and shore up at a club where he can get clued up from his own slip-ups and go on to become meticulous in his methods.

And then, Zidane could return to the limelight and take charge of a big club and shut his critics up for all the brouhaha they bunged at him throughout his time in charge of Los Blancos.