Zinedine Zidane, the three-times world player of the year, is to take on the role of Real Madrid director of football. Photograph: Javier Soriano/AFP/Getty Images
Zinedine Zidane says he will start working as Real Madrid's director of football from next week.
The 39-year-old three-times world player of the year has been working at the Spanish club as a special adviser to the Madrid president Florentino Pérez.
"We are going to start working in the role as director of football to the first team," Zidane said. "[Real's manager José] Mourinho has been fundamental in this, but so has the president as well.
"We shall see [what the role entails]. Everyone has been asking me the same question, but I will be there from next Monday, until the end of the season."
Zidane could be taking on some of the responsibilities that used to be handled by Jorge Valdano, who was sacked as general manager at the end of last season.
The relationship between Valdano and Mourinho, who was appointed coach in 2010, steadily deteriorated last term.
Pérez's decision to ditch his right-hand man Valdano and back Mourinho in May was a victory for the Portuguese as he sought to gain more influence over "sporting" matters at the nine-times European champions.
Mourinho had petitioned for Zidane to work more closely with the first team last season and it was the former Real playmaker who helped convince the club to buy French defender Raphaël Varane from Lens last week.
Zidane's three sons are all members of Real Madrid's academy.
Sources: guardian.co.uk
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