Zinedine Zidane has returned as Real Madrid manager just 10 months after leaving the Spanish giants.
The Frenchman replaces Santiago Solari, who was in charge for less than five months.
Former Real midfielder Zidane, 46, who
left in May after leading the club to a third straight Champions League
trophy, has agreed to take over until 2022, the club announced.
Real are currently third in La Liga, 12 points behind leaders Barcelona.
Solari was sacked after a 4-1 win over Real Valladolid on Sunday – which followed a shock Champions League exit to Ajax.
That 4-1 home defeat and 5-3 aggregate loss to the Dutch side was the final straw for Real president Florentino Perez.
The defeat by Ajax followed two
consecutive losses to Barcelona in El Clasico – a 1-0 reverse in La Liga
and a 4-1 aggregate defeat in the Copa del Rey.
Zidane stepped down following the
Champions League final victory over Liverpool, and Julen Lopetegui was
hired as his successor just before the World Cup where he had been due
to lead Spain, who promptly sacked him.
Four and a half months later it was Real’s turn to fire him.
Reserve-team boss Solari came in as caretaker before being given a contractto 2021 on 13 November.
“Real Madrid thanks Santiago Solari for
his work done and the commitment and loyalty he has shown to what is his
home,” the club said.
It added the former player had been offered another role with the club.
Despite returning less than a year after
he left the club, Zidane faces a rebuilding job at Real Madrid after
their Champions League dynasty came to a remarkable, humiliating end
last week.
They have not adequately replaced
Cristiano Ronaldo, who left for Juventus in the summer, with Karim
Benzema the only Real player to reach double figures in La Liga (13). He
has scored 22 goals in all competitions, with Gareth Bale on 13 and
Sergio Ramos on 11.
None of those players have certain
futures at Real, with captain Ramos, who has been at Real for 14 years,
reportedly falling out with president Perez. Wales forward Bale is
expected to leave because of a fractious relationship with the club’s
fans – who have booed him recently – and players.
Other stalwarts of recent glory like Marcelo and Toni Kroos have struggled too.
No comments:
Post a Comment