Updated at 17.29
ZINEDINE ZIDANE WILL make a shock return as coach of Real Madrid after the club decided on Monday to sack Santiago Solari, it has been confirmed.
Madrid president Florentino Perez is understood to have met with the board and resolved to dismiss Solari, with Zidane his replacement, nine months after the he resigned at the end of last season.
Zidane, who has signed a contract up until June 2022, could take training as early as Tuesday and is set to be in charge for Madrid’s La Liga game at home to Celta Vigo on Saturday.
His priority will be to secure Madrid’s place in the top four after a turbulent fortnight that has seen them lose twice to Barcelona and knocked out by Ajax in the Champions League.
Zidane won that tournament in each of his three seasons in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu, as well as La Liga in 2016-17, while enjoying a strong relationship with the majority of the players.
Gareth Bale was one of the few not to see eye-to-eye with the Frenchman and Bale’s future is now likely to become even more uncertain.
Zidane is set to be introduced to the media at a press conference in the Santiago Bernabéu stadium at 8pm this evening.
Sergio Ramos had said earlier on Monday he accepts blame for the club’s “deeply disappointing” season but insists the players have no say on the coaching situation.
Ramos posed a series of questions to himself on social media after Madrid had beaten Real Valladolid 4-1 in La Liga on Sunday night.
As footballers we like to do our talking on the pitch but this season is not turning out that way,” Ramos wrote.
“Recent events have been disastrous and I’m not hiding. We are not hiding. We the players are primarily responsible and I, as captain, more than anyone.”
On Solari’s position, Ramos had said: “It’s a decision that’s not ours to make and in which we never interfere. We have enormous respect for the position and we always support the Real Madrid coach.
“These reflections are, without doubt, the result of a deeply disappointing season but if success didn’t stop us, we’re not going to let defeat stop us. It’s our obligation to carry on, to work and to evolve.”
Originally published at 15.54
Additional reporting by Paul Fennessy
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