Zinedine Zidane took over leadership at Real Madrid, and miraculously steered the football team to an immediate success after Rafa Benitez failed to impress Los Blancos’ management with trophies.
Image shows Keylor Navas celebrating with Costa Rican teammates.
It remains a mystery how the Frenchman found his magic formula but Keylor Navas is here with a revelation.
The Costa Rican professional goalkeeper reveals that Zidane’s “clear philosophy” helped Real Madrid win the Champions League last season.
Navas, 29, spoke with Adidas in an interview reported by Marca. The Real Madrid goal-tender said:
“I’m working with the hope of improving what I’ve done so far, becoming a better person and a better player.
“I’m facing the season with great enthusiasm and desire to work hard, and we know that we must give everything.
“I have the advantage of now knowing how the club operate and how to work with my teammates. Things that were new to me are now quite familiar. You can always improve and learn.
“We understand [Zidane] well. He has a clear philosophy and we all tried to understand what he wanted as quickly as possible so we could implement it on the pitch.
“One of the things that helped us win the Champions League was that we learned very quickly [what he wanted] and we had very clear ideas. Ultimately we achieved the objective we had in mind.
“I try to remember everything [from the CL final]. Before reaching the final, I set myself a goal – to enjoy and live [the final] to the fullest, regardless of the outcome.
“They are unique moments and I tried to live them with intensity, enjoying moments of happiness and that of others who had to work hard. Becoming champions was the icing on the cake.
“I have a good friendship with [goalkeeping coach Lluis Llopis], but we’ve always managed to divide what is friendship and training.
“On the pitch, he treats everyone equally and if he has to correct me, he will. He’s always eager to help so we can improve. He’s a great coach.
“It’s a privilege [to be considered an idol in Costa Rica], and I always try to do my best. I try to be a good example for all the young lads.
“I always try to give the best of myself. I hope they become great professionals in the future and that I was able to do my bit [in their development].”
Image: Zinedine Zidane
Renowned for his elegance, vision, ball control and technique, Zidane was named the best European footballer of the past 50 years in the UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll.
The Real Madrid legend remains one of the greatest players in the history of the round-leather game. His 2001 transfer from Juventus to Real Madrid set a world record fee of an equivalent €75 million.
His left-foot volleyed winner in the 2002 UEFA Champions League Final is considered to be one of the greatest goals in the competition’s history.
On the international stage with France, Zidane won the 1998 FIFA World Cup, scoring twice in the final, and UEFA Euro 2000 where he was named Player of the Tournament. The World Cup triumph made him a national hero in France, and he received the Légion d’honneur in 1998.
Zidane was named the FIFA World Player of the Year three times, in 1998, 2000 and 2003, and won the 1998 Ballon d’Or.
He was Ligue 1 Player of the Year in 1996, Serie A Footballer of the Year in 2001 and La Liga Best Foreign Player in 2002.
Zidane received the Golden Ball for player of the tournament at the 2006 World Cup, despite his infamous sending off in the final against Italy for headbutting Marco Materazzi in the chest.
Prior to the World Cup, he announced he would retire at the end of the tournament.
Zinedine has the magic wand. That’s what one sees when a true footballer turns to a coach. He’s a world cup winner and a world class player. Now a world class coach. Same goes to Athletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone.
Zinedine Zidane is currently one of the best coaches in the world. He deserves to lead Madrid and hopefully one day he will win the World Cup as a coach again.