Zidane to be Real’s newsports director – report

Real Madrid will appoint French great Zinedine Zidane, who currently works as an advisor to the club’s president on first-team affairs, as its new sports director, a newspaper reported yesterday.

Real president Florentino Perez announced on Wednesday that the club’s management would be restructured following the dismissal of director general Jorge Valdano, who had clashed repeatedly with coach Jose Mourinho.

“There were two people with a strong character and the harmony was lacking. You were all witnesses of this over the past season. There was a clear dysfunction that needed to be resolved,” he said.

Perez said the restructuring would give the club a more “English” style that would grant Mourinho more autonomy over decision-making as the Portuguese coach has long demanded.

Zidane, who played for Real for five years between 2001 and 2006, has been a special advisor to Perez since November 2010.

The three-time FIFA World Player of the Year will now inherit the post of sports director, sports daily Marca, which is close to Real Madrid, reported. Former Real forward Miguel Pardeza occupied the post at Real last season.