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Zinedine Zidane is widely regarded as one of the best players in the game's history. However, at Real Madrid, the Frenchman also demonstrated his pedigree on the other side of the touchline.
Across two stints at the Santiago Bernabeu, the 1998 Ballon d'Or winner delivered a staggering 11 titles. This includes two La Liga and three (consecutive) UEFA Champions League trophies. Madrid won only their third La Liga-Champions League double under the Frenchman in 2017-18.
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Suffice to say, Zizou has had the luxury of managing a plethora of world-class players, especially goalscorers.
On that note, here's a look at the five players with the most goals under Zinedine Zidane:
#5 Marco Asensio - 31 goals
Marco Asensio is one of the most underrated players in the Real Madrid squad. Nevertheless, the 26-year-old winger has carved out a niche for himself, having scored 45 goals in over 200 appearances across competitions.
That includes 31 strikes in 155 games under Zinedine Zidane. One of those goals came in the 4-1 victory against Juventus in the 2016-17 Champions League final.
Asensio said Zidane told him after his blistering start to the 2016-17 season that he had a magical left foot:
“Zidane told me that since Messi, he had never seen a left foot like mine. I was a little impressed because Messi is a piece of a footballer."
#4 Sergio Ramos - 34 goals
Sergio Ramos is arguably one of the game's best goalscoring defenders. Now at PSG, the 35-year-old netted an impressive 34 times for Los Blancos under Zinedine Zidane.
That tally includes 11 strikes in the 2019-20 La Liga season, where Ramos led from the front at both ends of Los Blacos' triumphant league campaign.
The Spaniard also netted a last-gasp equalizer in the 2016 Champions League final against Atletico Madrid that sent the game into extra time. Madrid eventually won on penalties.
After Ramos left for PSG last summer, Zidane, who had earlier called Ramos one of Real Madrid's best-ever captains, said:
“Legend. It was a great pleasure and honour to have you as a teammate and player. A great captain in history. Many thanks for everything.”
#3 Gareth Bale - 44 goals
Gareth Bale is one of the most skilled wingers in the world. The Welshman, despite his recent lack of game time, has had a successful near decade-long stint at Real Madrid.
The four-time Champions League winner scored 44 of his 106 goals for Los Blancos under Zinedine Zidane. That includes one of the best goals in the UEFA Champions League final.
Coming off the bench, Bale produced an outrageous strike against Liverpool in the 2018 final, eliciting a stunned reaction from Zidane. In the process, Los Blancos completed an unprecedented three-peat.
Although relations would later deteriorate between player and coach, Zidane had no qualms admitting Bale's brilliance, saying:
"What he's done here cannot be disputed. He has won many things here and he has shown his qualities."
#2 Karim Benzema - 108 goals
Karim Benzema is one of the best strikers to have graced the game since the turn of the century.
The Frenchman, who has spent more than 12 years at the Santiago Bernabeu, recently netted his 300th goal across competitions for Real Madrid. That tally includes 108 goals (and 49 assists) under his compatriot Zinedine Zidane.
Benzema has scored more than half of those strikes (57) in two seasons since the departure of Los Blancos' record goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo in 2018 (more on him later).
Zidane recently said about his younger compatriot:
“He is decisive. What he does is phenomenal. Not just in terms of goals. I’m repeating myself on Karim, but he doesn’t just score goals. Karim brings clear-sightedness to our game, that’s very important. When he scores it’s even better, but beyond that he is very important to us.”
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo - 112 goals
Cristiano Ronaldo is widely regarded as one of the best players in the game's history.
With 450 strikes across competitions, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner is Real Madrid's all-time top scorer by a proverbial country mile. About a quarter of those strikes (and 29 assists) came in just two and a half seasons under Zinedine Zidane.
That tally includes 72 strikes in La Liga. He also netted 32 times in the Champions League, helping Madrid become the first team to win three consecutive titles in the competition.
Zidane once said about Ronaldo:
"What can I say about him? He is the best, and he's amazing at what he does. He is always looking to win titles, working very hard. It's most important to have passion and to like what you do. Then you give your best, and it's easier when you are at the best club in the world."
