Zinedine Zidane has returned to Real Madrid just 10 months after leaving the Spanish giants, having led them to an unprecedented three Champions League titles.
The Frenchman will replace Santiago Solari, who it is believed had been offered the chance to stay on at the Santiago Bernabeu in an undisclosed role.
The club confirmed Zidane’s return via a statement released on Twitter, with a press conference scheduled for 20:00 CEST (22:00 UAE) to welcome Zidane back. The 46-year-old has signed a deal until June 2022.
Solari was in charge for less than five months but saw Los Blancos’ campaign slide into disaster under his tenure after replacing Zidane’s original successor, Julen Lopetegui, in October. Real have opted to replace Solari with their former boss with immediate effect.
Solari’s fate seem sealed after a shocking few weeks, culminating in Tuesday’s Champions League exit to Ajax. A humiliating 4-1 home defeat and 5-3 aggregate loss to the Dutch side appeared to be the final straw for Real president Florentino Perez.
👔 Zidane regresa al @realmadrid.#HalaMadrid | #RealMadrid https://t.co/frvoYof4sx
— Real Madrid C.F.⚽ (@realmadrid) 11 March 2019
Solari oversaw a 4-1 win over Real Valladolid on Sunday even though Real rode their luck as the home side missed a penalty and saw two goals ruled out via VAR.
The defeat by Ajax followed two consecutive El Clasico defeats to Barcelona – a 1-0 loss in La Liga and a 3-0 thrashing in the Copa del Rey.
The club announced that Solari, who made nearly 150 appearances for Real as a player in the early 2000s before returning to the club in 2013 as youth coach, has been offered the chance to stay at the club.
A statement on the club’s official website read: “The Real Madrid board of directors, which met today, Monday 11 March 2019, has decided to terminate Santiago Solari’s contract as first-team coach, whilst Real Madrid have offered him the opportunity to remain at the club.
Solari has endured a difficult few weeks in the job.
“Real Madrid wish to thank Solari for his work, commitment and the loyalty that he has always displayed towards this club, which is his home.
“The board of directors also agreed on the appointment of Zinedine Zidane as head coach of Real Madrid with immediate effect for the remainder of the season and the next three campaigns, until 30 June 2022.
“The Real Madrid president will address the media alongside Zinedine Zidane at 8pm (CET) tonight in the Santiago Bernabeu media room.”
