Carlo Ancelotti wants to appoint former Real Madrid defender Fabio Cannavaro as his new assistant, in place of Zinidine Zidane.
It was confirmed yesterday that Zidane was to take over at Real Madrid Castilla, stepping down as one of Ancelotti’s assistants.
Paul Clement remains in his position alongside Ancelotti but has also been linked with taking a Coach’s job, while Marca reports that Ancelotti would like a replacement for Zidane.
He wasn’t taken by surprise at Zidane’s move to Castilla and has been laying the groundwork for his replacement, identifying Cannavaro as his first choice.
Cannavaro is considered the best option as he knows Madrid, having spent three years at the club, and is felt to have a similar kind of charisma to Zidane, that of the successful former player.
Ancelotti and Cannavaro have a lot of history, back to their time together at Parma in the mid-1990s, with Cannavaro then considered an extension on the field of the Coach.
Cannavaro wants to become a Coach in his own right and the chance to work alongside Ancelotti could help in that regard. He is currently affiliated with Al-Ahli, in the UAE, where he ended his playing career and later became an ambassador and adviser.
Should an offer from Madrid be forthcoming, the World Cup winner would accept and return to Spain.
The Madrid squad contains players who played alongside Cannavaro – Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Pepe and Iker Casillas, and Cannavaro is understood to have a good relationship with the four Madrid captains.
