Is Zinedine Zidane the secret to Real Madrid's success?

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has a job for life at the Bernabeu after becoming the first man to win back-to-back Champions League titles, says club president Florentino Perez.

The promise sounds hollow considering the Spanish club's history – the 44-year-old Frenchman is the 14th manager this century – but it's a reflection of how much of an impact Zidane has made in the 17 months since he replaced Rafa Benitez.

After taking over midway through last season he took Madrid to the European Cup and has enjoyed a "remarkable first full season in charge", says the Daily Mail. Zidane's achievements include winning a first La Liga title for five years, retaining the Champions League and delivering the club's first European Cup and league double since 1958.

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Turning Real Madrid's squad of stars into a coherent team has been his greatest achievement of all, says Graham Hunter of ESPN.

"He's infused every player in his Real Madrid squad with the same energy, the same discipline, the same professionalism, the same hunger, and unified them toward the same goal.

"Madrid under Zidane are, for the first time in a long while, more than the sum of their parts. And when the parts are as high-class as those at the Bernabeu, that's a powerful achievement."

Hunter likens his approach to that of Pep Guardiola, another former top-level player who understands the pressure of the job and has a "connection" with the players.

Sid Lowe of The Guardian agrees. "Zidane is familiar with footballers, attuned to their attitudes and concerns, especially at this elite level. He has made it about them, always; he wants them to be themselves, to feel important, but he has to guide them.

"Zidane has empathised and encouraged rather than imposed," says Lowe, and he has had the greatest success with Cristiano Ronaldo. "No one has connected with him quite like this or convinced him to take a step back like this before, preparing and protecting him like this."

Under their French manager, Real Madrid have lost only seven of 87 matches, says Henry Winter of The Times.

Zidane's critics point out that he is in charge of a squad of superstars. These include Cristiano Ronaldo, "who ranks among the five greatest players in history", but Zidane has learnt his craft with the reserves at Real Madrid and as an assistant to Carlo Ancelotti.

Despite Ronaldo's goals in the final "it was Zidane's game plan and mood-setting underpinning victory," says Winter.

"It was Zidane who plotted a path through the assault course of Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and Juventus. Yet still questions are posed over how good he is, whether great players can make great managers. Time will tell but two Champions Leagues in his first two seasons indicates he has potential. Zidane deserves more respect."