Real Madrid News
Zinedine Zidane open to a third stint as Real Madrid manager – report
Zinedine Zidane’s legacy at Real Madrid as both a player and a manager can never be erased from the history books. The French mastermind is one of the club’s most successful managers in recent history, but his departure in 2021 made many believe that it was the end of his association with the club.
According to reports from The Athletic, a source close to the French manager has confirmed that he does not rule out returning to Real Madrid as manager. In fact, a third stint at Santiago Bernabeu is the option that appeals to him the most alongside the opportunities at Juventus and Marseille.
As ridiculous as it sounds, Zidane’s appointment may not be a bad idea for Los Blancos. The former player has a proven and decorated track record at Real Madrid, one that very few others can boast of.
Interestingly, his entire managerial career has been with Los Blancos. He began as an assistant manager in 2013-14 before taking over charge at the Castilla for two seasons.
In 2016, he was given the responsibility of managing the first team and even won the UEFA Champions League in his two seasons at the club.
He left the Merengues in after Real Madrid’s win over Liverpool in the UCL final, stating a ‘need for change’ as the reason.
The hiatus did not last long, however, as Real Madrid soon went into a spell of poor results. Zidane thus returned and sparked off a special comeback at the club between 2019 and 2021.
At the moment, the men in white are doing well under Carlo Ancelotti and won both the UCL and La Liga last season. There is no calling for a change of management, but there have been rumours of the Italian being targeted to manage the Brazilian national team.
Even if Ancelotti does not leave this summer, his contract with Real Madrid expires in the summer of 2024. And should there be a vacancy, Zidane could certainly be an option to take over.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid to consider managerial position before targeting new players in the summer
It has not been the best of seasons for Real Madrid. Although the reigning European champions recently advanced to the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League with a resounding 6-2 aggregate win over Liverpool, they have not fared well in the domestic competitions.
The Whites are currently trailing La Liga league leaders FC Barcelona by a whopping nine-point margin. They have also lost to their arch-rivals in the first-leg of the Copa Del Rey semifinal tie, which has put further pressure on Carlo Ancelotti.
To that end, Fabrizio Romano (h/t MadridXtra) reports that Real Madrid’s preparation for the season ahead will depend heavily on what happens in regard to the club’s managerial position.
There is no secret that Ancelotti has been linked with a potential exit from Santiago Bernabeu at the end of the season. The coach himself feels he could be outed if Real Madrid fail to win anything come May.
But perhaps more importantly, Ancelotti feels he has not been given the same level of trust by the board, which was a key reason why Real Madrid did not sign too many players last summer. The situation is quite synonymous with Ancelotti’s first spell at the Bernabeu.
In addition to Real Madrid’s poor form in the domestic circuit, the Brazilian national team has also come knocking at the door of the Italian manager, who has been identified as the ideal replacement for Tite. The former Brazil manager relinquished his duties after the nation’s debacle at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Nevertheless, Real Madrid’s activity in the summer transfer market will depend heavily on who coaches the club next season. Therefore, it would perhaps be wiser for the club to start scouting for potential replacements for Ancelotti.
The likes of Thomas Tuchel and Jurgen Klopp have been linked with moves to Santiago Bernabeu, but an interesting alternative could be Raul, the club legend who is currently coaching the RM Castilla squad and could be ready to take the next huge step in his managerial career.
