France football legend Zidane could return as Real Madrid manager: reports

French football legend Zinedine Zidane could return to Real Madrid next season for a third stint as manager, according to reports.

Zidane — who led the Spanish team to three consecutive Champions League wins during his first spell as manager — informed his former coaching staff that he was looking to return to his old position, Mundo Deportivo reported earlier this week.

Though current Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti's contract lasts until 2024, speculation has grown over whether he could be replaced at the end of this season - despite a 4-0 win over Barcelona on Wednesday night.

Aside from Zidane, managerial legends including Jose Mourinho - another former Real Madrid manager - have also been linked to the position.

Zidane, who is Marseille-born but of Algerian descent, has been out of a coaching job since he cut his second spell as Real Madrid coach short in 2021, citing a lack of trust from club president Florentino Perez, although the two have since reconciled.

The 50-year-old had been tipped to become the next manager of the French national team before current head coach Didier Deschamps had his contract renewed in January.

He has long been linked to the manager role at Qatar-owned Paris Saint-Germain. Similar rumours have abounded over him potentially becoming Chelsea's manager next season.

Zidane is widely recognised as a French footballing icon, having been an instrumental part in Les Bleus' 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship wins.

He played for Real Madrid in the 2000s, where he won multiple championships.

But the end of his playing career was tarred by notoriety after he headbutted Italian player Marco Materazzi at the World Cup final - his last match before retirement.