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Zinedine Zidane: Frenchman named Real Madrid coach as Rafael Benitez sacked

| Saturday, 01.09.2016, 02:09 PM | (10216 views)

Zinedine Zidane held his first official press conference as Real Madrid head coach Tuesday and claimed he wanted to "win everything" in his maiden season at the helm.

Despite exiting the Copa del Rey due to fielding an ineligible player, Real is still into the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League and just four points behind Spanish La Liga leader Atletico Madrid.

When asked what would make him happy at the end of the season, Zidane replied: "Win everything.

"We have the possibility to win La Liga and the Champions League and we will aim to win both.

"There is room for improvement. We're still near the top in the league and are in the Champions League. We must be positive."

He is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, but will "Zizou" cut it as a coach?

The French icon, who inspired his country to World Cup glory in 1998, took over as head coach of the Spanish giants following the sacking of Rafael Benitez on Monday -- becoming the club's 11th boss in just 12 years.

Benitez always faced an uphill battle to win over Real fans, with his preferred style of football not akin to the fast, attacking play synonymous with the club over the years.

Zidane, however, seemed keen to appease supporters and sounded certain as to how he wants his team to play.

"Good football has always been important here," he said. "Good football, beautiful football and I will continue with this; attacking but with balance.

"We will work hard to be the best on the pitch. I've seen a focused team, switched on and all happy."

It is no secret that Real club president Florentino Perez desires to emulate Pep Guardiola's success at Barcelona, and given Zidane and the Catalan's similar rise from player to youth coach to head coach, comparisons between the two have already been drawn.

"You shouldn't do the comparison (between me and Guardiola)," Zidane said. "Guardiola is Guardiola. He is a fantastic coach and what he is doing is impressive, but I'm not going to compare myself to him.

"I never did it as a footballer and I will not do it as a manager. I will try to do everything possible to work hard.