Real Madrid confirm Zidane as B-team coach

Madrid, June 25 (IANS) Spanish football giants Real Madrid confirmed Wednesday that Zinedine Zidane will be the coach of the club's B-team (Real Madrid Castilla) for the coming season.

The move is seen as another step towards first team management by the former French international and Real Madrid legend, reports Xinhua.

Zidane had spent last season as assistant to first team coach Carlo Ancelotti in a campaign which saw Real Madrid win the Kings Cup and the Champions League. He spent five years as a Real Madrid player, joining from Juventus in 2001 and retiring in 2006.

In 2010 former Real Madrid coach, Jose Mourinho asked Zidane to work as a special advisor to the first team, a job which saw the Frenchman take part in pre-match meetings and training and that post was made more formal under Ancelotti's arrival.

Last season saw Real Madrid Castilla relegated from the Spanish Liga Adelante (second division) to the third tier of Spanish football and Zidane's task will be to lead them to promotion while ensuring that the next generation of young players is able to develop and challenge for a first team role.