Zinedine Zidane leaves Real Madrid

He left as he arrived, and as he had spent the last two-and-a-half years: with dignity, reports BBC Sports. 

Zinedine Zidane's decision to quit Real Madrid just five days after leading the team to their third consecutive Champions League title has thrown the Spanish giants into turmoil.

Los Blancos president Florentino Perez was obviously stunned by the decision, which Zidane delivered with a notably open and revealing news conference on Thursday lunchtime, and now the Bernabeu top brass have to work hard and work fast to identify and pursue their preferred successor to the Frenchman.

The Spanish media was also taken aback, conveying a reaction of amazement: an article on Marca's website claimed the news has "hit the dressing room like a bomb", while El Mundo stated "the club have never believed there could be a better captain for such a difficult ship".

Here BBC Sport reflects on the reasons for Zidane's exit and what it means for the reigning champions of Europe.