Real Madrid have announced that former manager Zinedine Zidane has returned to the club to replace the sacked Santiago Solari.
Zidane has signed a contract that will run until June 30, 2022. He will take over the club with immediate effect.
“Real Madrid’s board, meeting today Monday 11 March 2019, have decided to end the contract which linked Santiago Solari to the club as first team coach, while offering him to continue working for the club,” the club said in a statement.
“Real Madrid thanks Santiago Solari for his work done and the commitment and loyalty he has shown to what is his home.”
The Frenchman, who only quit last summer, recently became the favored candidate across the Real Madrid board, overpowering president Florentino Perez’s temptation to reappoint Jose Mourinho. Zidane’s first spell in charge of the club included winning the Champions League three times in a row, as well as La Liga in 2017.
A run of three successive defeats, including twice to Barcelona in the league and Copa del Rey, left Madrid’s season in disarray before Sunday night’s 4-1 win over Real Valladolid. Club captain Sergio Ramos has called the situation “disastrous,” while Nacho has said the team had a “difficult” relationship with the coach.
The Real Madrid squad which dominated Europe under Zidane needs a complete overhaul and the length of the contract suggests that Zidane will be given the time needed to rebuild the team over the next couple of transfer windows.
Madrid are third in La Liga, 12 points off leaders Barcelona with 11 matches remaining.
