Zinedine Zidane is set to return as Real Madrid manager just 10 months after leaving the Spanish giants, according to European football expert Guillem Balague.
The Frenchman will replace Santiago Solari, who was in charge for less than five months.
Former Real midfielder Zidane, 46, left in May after leading the club to a third straight Champions League trophy.
Real are currently third in La Liga, 12 points behind leaders Barcelona.
Solari is set to be sacked after a 4-1 win over Real Valladolid on Sunday – which followed a shock Champions League exit to Ajax.
That 4-1 home defeat and 5-3 aggregate loss to the Dutch side was the final straw for Real president Florentino Perez.
The defeat by Ajax followed two consecutive defeats by Barcelona in El Clasico – a 1-0 loss in La Liga and a 3-0 thrashing in the Copa del Rey.
Zidane stepped down following the Champions League final victory over Liverpool, and Julen Lopetegui was hired as his successor just before the World Cup where he had been due to lead Spain, who promptly sacked him.
Four and a half months later it was Real’s turn to fire him.
Reserve-team boss Solari came in as caretaker before being given a contract to 2021 on 13 November.
Despite returning less than a year after he left the club, Zidane faces a rebuilding job at Real Madrid after their Champions League dynasty came to a remarkable, humiliating end last week.
They have not adequately replaced Cristiano Ronaldo, who left for Juventus in the summer, with Karim Benzema the only Real player to reach double figures in La Liga (13).
He has scored 22 goals in all competitions, with Gareth Bale on 13 and Sergio Ramos on 11.
None of those players have certain futures at Real, with captain Ramos, who has been at Real for 14 years, reportedly falling out with president Perez.
Wales forward Bale is expected to leave because of a fractious relationship with the club’s fans – who have booed him recently – and players.
Other stalwarts of recent glory like Marcelo and Toni Kroos have struggled too. – BBC Sports.
