Zinedine Zidane makes shock return to Real Madrid, Santiago Solari sacked

Zinedine Zidane made shock return as coach of Real Madrid after the club decided on Monday to sack Santiago Solari. Madrid president Florentino Perez met with the board and resolved to dismiss Solari. Zidane had resigned nine months ago at the end of last season. Zidane will 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. The announcement was announced on the club's official Twitter page and Perez had a joint press conference with Zidane, making the announcement formal. "The best manager in the world has rejoined the club. Our destinies are once again united," Perez said. Zidane has been appointed as manager for a three-year term.

Zidane won UEFA Champions League 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. 

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Gareth Bale was one of the few not to see eye-to-eye with the Frenchman and Bale's future will become even more uncertain under Zidane's helm. 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. 

💬 Zidane: "I'm very happy to be home. I want to put this club back where it belongs."#RealMadrid | #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/8PJ035sstD

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) March 11, 2019

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 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."  

HIGHLIGHTS

• Real Madrid were dumped out of the Champions League by Ajax.
• Real Madrid are currently in third position in the La Liga.
• Real Madrid lost twice to Barcelona.