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Football

31st May 2018

Arsene Wenger is favourite to replace Zidane at Real Madrid

The Frenchman is a free agent after leaving Arsenal

Wayne Farry

The veteran Frenchman has been installed as favourite to replace his compatriot

Arsene Wenger is favourite to take over as manager of Real Madrid after Zinedine Zidane resigned this afternoon.

Zidane spent three seasons at the Santiago Bernabeu, winning nine trophies in total which included three Champions League triumphs, and leaves a side which – despite finishing third in La Liga last season – is stocked with world class talent and experience.

While it is not yet known where Zidane will go after his spell, it has emerged that Arsene Wenger is the strong favourite to replace him.

Wenger left Arsenal after more than 20 years in charge of the club and has been vocal about his willingness to remain as a coach in top flight football.

Though he had been tentatively linked with the sporting director position at Paris Saint-Germain, it is widely expected that his next job wil be as a manager.

It is not the first time that Wenger has been linked with Real Madrid, and he has spoken in the past about his rejection of previous offers from the club: “Real Madrid, I think I turned them down two or three times,” Wenger told beIN Sports. “They are one of the teams I loved as a kid but I felt it was a very sensitive period for Arsenal.”

Currently the second favourite for the job is ex-Madrid star Guti, who has been coaching Real Madrid youth teams ince 2013.