Zinedine Zidane resigned as manager for Real Madrid on Thursday, days after leading the squad to a third straight Champions League title.
Real captured its 13th European title with a 3–1 victory over Liverpool last Saturday. Zidane was the first manager in Champions League history to win three straight European Cups.
"It is a sad day, for me, for the club, the players, everyone at this club. It is an unexpected decision -- I loved him as a player, and coach, and wanted him always at my side. But when he takes a decision the only thing we can do is respect it," club president Florentino Perez said during a news conference.