Reports in Spain suggest that Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane could be appointed as the club’s assistant manager once Rafael Benitez is confirmed as coach.
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Club president Florentino Perez relieved previous coach Carlo Ancelotti of his duties earlier in the week, following the former Milan and Chelsea manager’s inability to win silverware with the Merengues.
Despite winning La Decima — Real’s long-awaited tenth Champions League title — last season, Ancelotti failed to build on that success. The Spanish giants were dumped out of this year’s competition in the semi-final, following a 3-2 aggregate defeat at the hands of Juventus, while they also fell short in La Liga.
Benitez is the overwhelming favourite to take the hotseat at the Bernabeu, having previously managed Real’s B team, according to the Independent.
The Napoli coach enjoyed success with Valencia in his homeland, while he also won Liverpool’s fifth Champions League with an unforgettable victory over Ancelotti’s Milan in 2005.
According to AS, Zidane could be appointed as Benitez’s assistant once he is confirmed as Real’s next coach.
The France icon is currently responsible for the club’s young players, a role he took earlier this campaign having previously operated as Ancelotti’s assistant — a role he could well reprise under Benitez.
The former playmaker — who won the Champions League with Real in 2002 — has also been linked with the AS Monaco job, while he has also been tipped as the successor to Willy Sagnol at another of his former clubs, Girondins de Bordeaux, via Le 10 Sport.