Raphael Varane says Zinedine Zidane's successor as Real Madrid manager has a tough act to follow: 'He has done something that wi

Real Madrid's new coach will have to 'adapt to Real Madrid' in order to successfully replace Zinedine Zidane, according to defender Raphael Varane.

Zidane shocked the football world by stepping down as Real manager just days after leading them to a third successive Champions League triumph.

The Frenchman won nine trophies in total during his two-and-a-half year spell at the Bernabeu and Varane knows it will require a strong character to replace him.

Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri, Tottenham's Mauricio Pochettino, outgoing Chelsea manager Antonio Conte and former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger are among the names in the frame.

"The new coach must be able to evolve in the Madrid context because it's not easy, it's a context with a lot of pressure and expectations," Varane said.

"Zidane has done something that it will be difficult to do again. What he has done in two and a half years is extraordinary."

"We're not going to ask the new coach to win so many trophies in such a short time, but he will have to adapt to Real Madrid."

"There are very good coaches in Europe - the new coach will have to have the character to take up this challenge."

Zidane's final match in charge saw Real defeat Liverpool 3-1 in Kiev to become the first team to complete a hat-trick of Champions League titles.

They defeated Atletico Madrid on penalties to win the 2016 final and stuffed Juventus 4-1 last year.

Varane, who played 44 times for Real last season, now heads to the World Cup with France, where they have been drawn with Peru, Australia and Denmark in Group C.