5 Managers who went out on a high like Zidane

Zinedine Zidane stepped down from the post of Real Madrid manager recently and it took everyone by surprise. However, no one can doubt the pedigree of the job he has done in the Spanish capital.

The Los Blancos won 9 trophies during his tenure, which include three Champions League titles and one league crown. In fact, his announcement came just about a week after his side claimed their third successive European title.

More often than not managers leave their jobs due to their incompetence. However, a select bunch leave with their heads held high. Here are 5 managers who went out on a high.

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#5 Luiz Felipe Scolari (Brazil) - 2002

Scolari lead his native country to the World Cup title in 2002

Brazilian Scolari was appointed as the manager of his native team in June 2001. With five matches left to go in the qualifying campaign, Brazil's qualification was far from secure.

Despite losing his first match in charge, Scolari guided them to the World Cup finals. However, this was only the beginning.

Brazil won all their group games, buoyed on by the brilliance of Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, and Ronaldo. They kept on winning, all the way to the final where they defeated Germany 2-0. Brazil won their fifth World Cup title in sensational style and Scolari had a large part to play.

Just after the tournament, Scolari announced his resignation when it was expected that he would continue at the helm. Nobody saw it coming, but he left the Brazil team on a high. World Cup titles are hard to deliver, believe it or not.

#4 Bob Paisley (Liverpool) - 1983

Bob Paisley was a huge success at Liverpool

Paisley was a Liverpool man throughout his career. He spent about half a century at Anfield, as a player, physiotherapist and a manager.

He had a stellar career as a manager and is one of only three managers to have lifted the European Cup thrice and the first one to do so in his time. He was at Liverpool for nine years, and his last season at the club was as good as any of them.

He won the league and cup double which included a comeback cup final win against Manchester United. Paisley was one of the best managers to grace Merseyside and he got the farewell he deserved.

#3 Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United) - 2013

Sir Alex won the Premier League in his final season in charge

Sir Alex is considered as one of the best managers to ever grace the game, if not the best. Although he had a successful spell at Aberdeen, he is remembered for his tenure at Manchester United where he was dominant for more than 25 years.

The Scotsman's final season at Old Trafford was the 2012-13 campaign, and it was a memorable one. United won the league title in dominant style, giving Fergie a special farewell. In doing so they won their 20th league title, going above arch-rivals Liverpool which made the victory even sweeter.

Sir Alex got an amazing farewell and deservedly so for the staggering 38 trophies he won at the club. What a manager.

#2 Jupp Heynckes (Bayern Munich) - 2013

Heynckes won the treble in his final season

Heynckes began his third stint at Bayern in 2011, and it would prove to be his arguably most successful one in the German capital.

In the 2011-12 season, his side finished runners-up in all the three competitions. Borussia Dortmund has the better of them in the domestic battle and they lost to Chelsea in the Champions League final.

However, the following season they were unstoppable. Bayern won the Bundesliga, smashing numerous records in the process. They also tasted redemption in the Champions League, beating Dortmund in the final. A 7-0 mauling of Barcelona in the semi-finals was a highlight of their season.

In Heynckes' last match, Bayern defeated VfB Stuttgart to win the DFB-Pokal Cup. Win a treble and leave the club at their peak. What a way to go out.

#1 Jose Mourinho (Inter Milan) - 2010

Mourinho took Inter to the top in Europe

Mourinho was in Milan for a short period of two seasons but boy were those two good seasons. He won the league in his first season in charge but his second season was the hallmark of his time in Italy.

He strengthened his team considerably in the summer and the effect was clear. Inter won the Serie A, Champions League, and the Coppa Italia titles, firmly putting Mourinho on the Mount Rushmore of managers.

Inter defeated Barcelona 3-2 in the semi-finals, a result which Mourinho labeled as the best moment of his career.

Owing to his tremendous success, Real Madrid came calling and a world record compensation deal was agreed as Inter let the Portuguese go. What a way to bow out though. Absolutely sensational.