Zinedine Zidane confirms Real Madrid exit

Zinedine Zidane has decided to step down as Real Madrid coach with immediate effect, Spanish media reported on Wednesday. AS newspaper reported that the Frenchman has called time on his second spell in charge of the La Liga club, who he has led to two league titles and three Champions League victories since 2015. Zidane has told club directors and the first-team squad of his decision, the reports said. The report comes after Madrid narrowly lost out on the league title to city rivals Atletico Madrid on Saturday. Real finished second in the standings, two points behind Atletico. They were knocked out of the Champions League at the semi-final stage and the Copa del Rey in the round of 32, thus ending the season without a trophy for the first time in 11 years. Zidane had initially denied his exit reports as untrue.