Former Real Madrid midfielder Christian Karembeu believes Zinedine Zidane will become the club’s greatest ever manager if he masterminds another Champions League win on Saturday evening.
Zidane goes in search of his third successive European Cup triumph when his side take on Liverpool in Kiev, despite only having been in the dugout since January, 2016.
No manager has ever won three Champions League titles in succession and Karembeu, who won the competition twice with Los Blancos, insists Zidane deserves to be recognised for his incredible achievements.
Heineken hosted Christian Karembeu at City of Champions event in Athens ahead of final
Speaking at Heineken’s City of Champions event in Athens ahead of the final, Karembeu told Sportsmail why his former France team-mate’s attention to detail has made him such a success on the continent.
‘When we were playing he wanted things to be perfect on the pitch,’ Karembeu said.
‘To deliver good passes, good actions and to work hard. When he became a manager you could still see that inside of him – what he delivers to his players and how he inspires them.
‘Not just because of his aura, it’s what he implements every day. Exercises, theories and what he thinks about the game. He’s a winner, a perfectionist.’
Zidane has been under pressure this season after surrendering the La Liga title to fierce rivals Barcelona, but Karembeu believes his friend is just one win away from greatness.
Karembeu tells Sportsmail that Zinedine Zidane can be greatest manager in Madrid’s history
He added: ‘Nobody has done that before (won three Champions League titles in succession).
‘He would be the No 1 manager in Madrid’s history. The club have always broken records and maybe Zizou will do it.’
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool stand in the way of Zidane and Real making history – and Karembeu expects Mohamed Salah and Co to cause the holders problems.
‘I am a Real Madrid fan and a former player so I would like Zidane to make the record by winning three times in a row,’ he said.
‘It would give them the dimension of the biggest club in the world, but they have a real adversary in front of them with Liverpool. They are very dangerous with Salah, (Sadio) Mane and (Roberto) Firmino.
‘Nobody was expecting them (to make the final), but the way they play is fantastic.
‘Through the qualifiers they won with their own way of playing, with speed and efficiency in front of the goal.
‘By winning many games the trust and confidence comes through the team and that’s why they have delivered great performances.’
Zidane will become first manager to win three successive Champions League’s, if Madrid win
City of Champions is an immersive UEFA Champions League Final experience brought to fans by Heineken. Athens is famous for its rich history as a stage for memorable moments and heroism, and a fitting location as the host destination of Heineken’s City of Champions for 2018.
Heineken believes that every UEFA Champions League match delivers the same drama and emotion as a blockbuster film, written live by the best players in the world – and deserves to be shared among friends, over a Heineken.