Reports: Real Madrid set to announce Zinedine Zidane as their new manager

What's the story?

According to the reputed Spanish media outlet AS and several other sources from Spain, former Real Madrid manager, Zinedine Zidane, is set to take over the managerial role at the Bernabeu from Santiago Solari, 284 days after shockingly resigning from his post following the third successive Champions League triumph during his helm at the club.

In case you didn't know..

The Frenchman took over the Real Madrid job after Rafa Benitez was sacked midway through the 2015/16 season. During his tenure at the Bernabeu, the 42-year-old led the Los Blancos to 9 major collective honors, including three Champions League and a La Liga title.

In the 149 matches he managed for the Galacticos, the former midfield sensation had a laudable record with 104 wins, 29 draws and just 16 defeats during the two-and-a-half-year tenure at the Bernabeu touchline.

Following the third successive Champions League triumph in Kiev during his helm, the Frenchman shockingly resigned from his post, leaving the Real Madrid fans in despair, across the world.

The heart of the matter

Following the departures of Zinedine Zidane and the club's highest-ever goalscorer, Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Juventus last summer, the Los Blancos had a dreadful start to their season with a UEFA Super Cup defeat at the hands of their local rivals, Atletico Madrid.

And since then, the current season has been nothing but misery for the 13-time European champions. Having ruined their season within a week, the Royal Whites crashed out of the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Champions League.

On the other hand, the 33-time La Liga champions currently occupy the third spot in the La Liga table - 12 points adrift of the leaders and their eternal rivals, FC Barcelona.

Zidane's return at the Bernabeu will be a huge boost for the side which has been dominating European football but have struggled lately.