Paris, Jan 9 (IANS) Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane was elected as French Coach of the Year by the France Football magazine for the second straight year, following his successful 2017 with five trophies.
Zidane led Real Madrid to La Liga, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, Spanish Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup victories in 2017. The team were the first to have defended their title in Champions League era, reports Xinhua news agency.
He overshadowed French national team head coach Didier Deschamps and Ligue 1 club Lyon’s manager Bruno Genesio in the vote, and received his accolade at the club’s training base.
Zidane had been named Best FIFA Men’s Coach in 2017 before his latest award.
Things went in the opposite way for Real Madrid this season, especially in the league, as they have trailed by 16 points behind leaders Barcelona.
They will face Paris Saint-Germain, who recruited Neymar and Kylian Mbappe and targeted at the title, in Champions League round of 16.
“I prepared myself and prepared well for that…I’m not surprised when things work a little less well. Today, yes, the danger is there, but I will not change,” he told France Football to be issued on Tuesday.