Zinedine Zidane has resigned as Real Madrid coach with immediate effect according to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano and corroborated by ESPN.

The reports say the Frenchman tendered his resignation on Wednesday morning following days mulling over his future.

He led Madrid to a second-place finish in La Liga behind champions Atletico Madrid in his second managerial spell at the club.

Real reportedly asked Zidane to see out his contract until 2022 but were already making plans for his departure, with Massimiliano Allegri and club legend Raul being considered as replacements.

Zidane, 48, returned to the Real Madrid job in 2019, having previously been in charge from 2016 to 2018.

Before that, he spent five years at the club as a player, worked as an assistant to Carlo Ancelotti, and coached B-team Castilla before being offered the first-team job in January 2016.

He led Real to an unprecedented three consecutive Champions League trophies in 2016, 2017 and 2018, as well as a first La Liga title in five years in 2017.

He first resigned in May 2018 but returned a year later following the failed, short reigns of Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari.

An unusual 2019-20 season disrupted by the coronavirus ended in triumph with another league title win after Zidane’s side won 10 of their final 11 games post-lockdown.