Former Real Madrid goalkeeper, Bodo Illgner, says Zinedine Zidane is the perfect manager for La Liga leader because he commands respect and can look at some of the biggest superstars in the eye. Zinedine Zidane took over from Rafael Benitez around a year ago as the manager of the European champions and has since seen his side rise and rise taking the fight to cross-city rivals Atletico Madrid and arch-rivals Barcelona. And he's currently the only manager in La Liga who is yet to lose a match.
And Bodo Illgner believes his achievements as a player plays a huge part in the kind of manager he is – commanding respect and working equally with everyone to ensure they perform excellently as a team rather than focus on individuals.
Speaking to Goal, Illgner said, "There are different types of coaches. (Diego) Simeone, for example, is a coach which puts his stamp, his philosophy on the club and on the team.
"Zidane, I would consider to be comparable to (Carlo) Ancelotti or (Vicente) Del Bosque. He is a coach who makes the best out of his possibilities. He has top-class players available but he is also working excellently with them.
"He is the ideal coach for Real Madrid. Especially young players have big respect for him as he has this aura as a former world-class player. And also stars like Ronaldo respect him as he can talk eye to eye with them, which wasn't the case with [Rafa] Benitez. Furthermore, his calm and prudent character is very helpful as well."
Given Zidane's men are six points clear of Barcelona and nine points clear of Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid, Illgner might be right about his former side being more united than ever. Real Madrid have been absolutely sensational in the La Liga this season winning ten games and drawing only four.
Given the fact that they avoided a defeat at the hands of Barcelona in this season's first El Clasico last weekend, it's hugely encouraging for Zidane and his men. Luis Suarez gave the home side the lead with a header early in the second half but Sergio Ramos rose highest to head home Real Madrid's equaliser extremely late in the second half.
Real Madrid now have two home games coming up: one in the UEFA Champions League when they host Borussia Dortmund and the second one on the weekend against Deportivo in the La Liga.
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