Zidane returns as Real coach

Madrid: Real Madrid have reappointed Zinedine Zidane as coach on a three-year deal following the sacking of Santiago Solari, the club said , after the European champions’ season collapsed inside a week. “Real Madrid’s board met today and decided to end the contract linking Santiago Solari to the club as first team coach and, at the same time, have offered to keep him at the club,” Madrid said in a statement. “The board have named Zinedine Zidane as the new coach to be incorporated immediately for the rest of the season and the next three.”

Frenchman Zidane won an unprecedented three consecutive Champions League titles with the club before resigning in May last year, with his replacement Julen Lopetegui sacked in October and Solari lasting just over four months in charge.

Madrid were eliminated from the Champions League in the last-16 by Ajax on Tuesday after two Clasico defeats by Barcelona, knocking Real out of the Copa del Rey and leaving them 12 points adrift of the Catalan La Liga leaders. Solari, a former Real Madrid and Argentina midfielder who took over at the Bernabeu on November 13, had replaced former Spain manager Lopetegui but failed to bring success to the Bernabeu.Real had won the Champions League for three straight seasons under Zidane but lost 4-1 at home to Ajax to go out 5-3 on aggregate, their earliest exit since 2006.

The 42-year-old Solari was in charge of Real for 22 games in all competitions, losing eight and drawing two, and helped the Spanish giants claim the FIFA Club World Cup in December.

Solari leaves Real third in the Liga standings, with Zidane’s job now to keep them in the top-four.

Solari’s side thrashed Real Valladolid 4-1 on Sunday in his final stand as coach. Zidane is expected to take charge of training on Tuesday.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Kashmir Monitor staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)