Zidane to coach third division reserve team

FOUL PLAY SET IN STONE: Italy's Marco Materazzi falls on the pitch after being head-butted by France's Zinedine Zidane (R) during their World Cup 2006 final soccer match in Berlin in 2006.photo: REUTERS
FOUL PLAY SET IN STONE: Italy's Marco Materazzi falls on the pitch after being head-butted by France's Zinedine Zidane (R) during their World Cup 2006 final soccer match in Berlin in 2006.photo: REUTERS

Zinedine Zidane has been appointed coach of Real Madrid's third division reserve team Castilla, the European champions said Wednesday.

Zidane, 42, played for Real between 2001 and 2006, and was assistant last season to head coach Carlo Ancelotti.

He was poised to accept an offer from French club Girondins de Bordeaux recently, but has been persuaded by Real president Florentino Perez to stay in Madrid.

It will be Zidane's first coaching position. Perez has often spoken of him as a possible future head coach of Real.

The mission of Real Madrid Castilla is to develop players for Real's first team. They were relegated from the second division last season.

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