Former Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has announced he’s ready to return to management.
Zidane has flirted with PSG, Newcastle and Manchester United since leaving Real 18 months ago.
“Going back to coaching is my goal,” Zizou told Le Figaro.
“Today I have free time but I don’t know how long it will last. I have until June perhaps, but it could happen very quickly that I will return to bench.”
John Obi Mikel admits former Chelsea teammate Eden Hazard was among the most unprofessional players he played with.
Hazard is now facing the exit door at Real Madrid after three frustrating years in Spain.
Mikel Obi told Dubai Eye: “Everyone wants to join the starting eleven when the weekend comes and there is no place for you who think: ‘I do not want to train today’. The only player I saw doing it and who got away with it was Eden Hazard.
“He has never trained. The worst. The laziest football player I’ve ever seen in my life. But then came the weekend and he produced and was the match’s lyricist.
“I actually think that when you look at him now he has lost a lot of weight. But when he was in Chelsea … the night before a match after dinner he could sit there for half an hour eating rice pudding. He likes his food.
“Then he went to bed, woke up on a Saturday morning, and was there, produced. We just let him do what he wanted.”
UEFA Champions League defending Champions, Real Madrid yesterday defeated Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal 5-3 to emerge winners of this year’s FIFA Club World Cup.
The first 20 minute of the encounter produced two goals for the Galacticos, courtesy of Vinicius Junior and Fede Valverde, before Al Hilal pulled one back shortly afterwards through Malian forward Moussa Marega.
Karim Benzema, back in the team after injury, then made it 3-1 to Madrid after 54 minutes and Valverde scored his second of the night to put Los Blancos 4-1 up before an hour had been played.
But Al Hilal did not give in and former Atletico and Villarreal forward Lucas Vietto scored twice, before Vinicius added the 5th to put the game beyond reach for the Saudi-Arabian side 10 minute to the end of the encounter.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side, who qualified as Champions League winners last season, had far too much attacking quality for their opponents to handle.
The result meant that Madrid have won the tourney for the fifth time in their career and the only club ever to do so.
The feat is also Madrid’s second piece of silverware of the season, after winning the European Super Cup in August.
Recall that Madrid also won the Intercontinental Cup (which preceded this tournament) on three occasions.
“We are very happy, for the eighth time Madrid are champions of the world, it was what we had to do,” Ancelotti told Telecinco.
“We’re happy, it was a good game. We had a lot of quality up front.
“I think we were good up front, with Vinicius, Karim, Valverde, who got two, up top the team had mobility and quality.”
UEFA Champions League Champions Real Madrid are battle ready to face Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal in this year’s final of the FIFA Club World Cup holding today, Saturday.
Su[per Eagles forward, Odion Ighalo will be on duty as they lock horns with Spanish nChampions Real Madrid in Rabat Morocco later today.
Ramon Diaz tutored Al Hilal are hoping to become the first Asian side to win the competition.
Al Hilal may be the most decorated club in Asia , but they will be up against the grandest institution on planet football, Real Madrid.
The Nigerian, alongside Gustavo Cuellar, Andre Carillon, Luciano Vietto and Michael are the men the Blues Waves will look upon to help them complete another mission impossible after the shocking 3-2 win against Brazilian club Flamengo in the semi-final.
Real Madrid, who swept aside Egypt’s Al Ahly 4-1 in the semis, will strive to make it 10 consecutive victories in the competition.
Manager, Carlo Ancelotti will welcome back talismanic forward, Karim Benzema to the side with most of the usual casts available.
Real Madrid holds the record for most victories, winning the competition four times since its inception. Teams from Spain have won the tournament the most times, with seven wins produced from that nation.
The current champions are Chelsea, who won their first title following a 2–1 win after extra time against Palmeiras in the 2021 final, held at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Real Madrid will face Ighalo’s Al Hilal in this year’s FIFA Club World Cup hosted by Morocco, the match will be played on Saturday.
The Gataticos reached a record fifth FIFA Club World Cup final with a resounding 4-1 demolition of Africa’s vice Champions, Al Ahly of Egypt in Wednesday’s night semi-final encounter.
Al Ahly had their fair share of chances in the game, but Madrid’s superior quality ensured that they led 1-0 at the break; and doubled the lead just after the interval.
Al Ahly reduced the deficit on the stroke of 60 minute byt the reigning European Champions then responded by adding two more goals to complete the demolition.
Madrid broke the deadlock with Vinicius Junior’s dinked finish in the 42nd minute, before Federico Valverde gave the Champions League winners a 2-0 lead just after the interval.
Al Ahly’s solitary goal was through Ali Maaloul’s penalty before Luka Modric saw a spot-kick of his own saved.
But Rodrygo and Sergio Arribas got on the scoresheet in stoppage time to leave Madrid eyeing a record fifth world title.
Mohamed Sherif and Mohamed Abdelmonem both went close for Al Ahly, before Vinicius tested Mohamed El-Shenawy from a tight angle.
Rodrygo then hit the left-hand post from a similar situation soon after, but Madrid did net the opener, just prior to half-time.
Al Ahly are winners of the Bronze medal matches, in 2006, 2019 and 2021; and the Red Devils will now hope to finish the 2023 tournament in Morocco on a high when taking on Flamingo of Brazil in the losers final.
Meanwhile, Odion Ighalao’s Saudi Arabia clubside Al-Hilal defeated COMEBOL Champions, Flamengo of Argentina 3-2 in the other semi-final clash.
This year’s final will be played between European champions and Asian Champions in Rabat on Saturday.
Nigeria’s Odion Ighalo couldn’t get on the scorer’s sheet but played for about 60 minute before being subbed out.
Chelsea won the last edition of the FIFA club World Cup.
Real Madrid rejected Joao Cancelo before the Manchester City fullback joined Bayern Munich last week.
Cancelo has signed for Bayern on-loan to the end of the season on deadline day.
Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports Real Madrid were offered the opportunity to sign the fullback. But despite some injury worries, Real declined with thanks – also because they didn’t want to block the prospects of young talent Vinícius Tobias (18).
Cancelo eventually moved to Bayern Munich, where he made his debut in the German Cup game against Mainz 05 (4-0) just one day after his transfer.
The Portugal international is on loan from Manchester City until the end of the season, with a €70m permanent option.
Real Madrid will travel to Morocco later this month for this year’s FIFA Club World Cup tourney.
The Spanish La Liga side will be competing at the competition owing to winning the UEFA Champions League last season.
Los Blancos will now aim to add another trophy to their collection.
Al Ahly defeated MLS club Seattle Sounders over the weekend.
The Egyptian champions will now face Real Madrid in Rabat.
The winner will face either Flamengo or Al Hilal in the Club World Cup final, due to be played next weekend.
The Spanish el-Classico will be re-incarnated in the cope Copa del Rey semi-finals showdown between Rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona.
The Copa del Rey semi-final draws was held on Monday, January 30th, 2023 and it pitched Real Madrid with Barcelona.
The other semi-final game will see Osasuna trade tackles with Athletic Bilbao
The matches take place on four different dates in February, March and April with the Spanish FA having a schedule headache.
Real Madrid are playing in the FIFA Club World Cup which begins on Wednesday and ends on Feb. 11, and then two legs of the Champions League last 16.
Real Madrid and Barca meet in the first leg at Camp Nou on March 1 and will play the second leg at Santiago Bernabeu on April 4 or April 5.
Osasuna will play Athletic Bilbao on Feb. 8 and March 1.
The semi-final represents a chance for LaLiga and European champions Real Madrid to get revenge for their 3-1 loss two weeks ago in the Spanish Super Cup against FC Barcelona.
The match took place in Riyadh few weeks ago.
Barca are currently the league leaders after they moved on to 47 points with their 1-0 win at Girona on Saturday.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has warned Arsenal off Eduardo Camavinga.
The Gunners were said to be keen on loaning Camavinga this January but it is an option that Real Madrid do not even remotely contemplate.
His great performance in the Copa del Rey match against Villarreal gave a reminder to those who began to doubt him.
The Italian spoke about the youngster in a press conference, comparing him to the club’s two midfield greats.
“He is untouchable, like (Toni) Kroos and (Luka) Modric,” said Ancelotti in the press room.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti admits they weren’t good enough for defeat to Barcelona in the Supercopa de Espana final.
Gavi, Robert Lewandowski, and Pedri were on target as Barca beat Real Madrid 3-1, with Karim Benzema scoring a late consolation.
“It was known that the team was not at its best,” Ancelotti told Movistar. “The game has shown some shortcomings. We will be back. It’s a blow, but you have to pick yourselves up and prepare for the next game.”
He continued: “We gave away too much. The game started evenly, there wasn’t much rhythm. Once the scoring was opened, they had more confidence.
“Avoiding giving gifts away comes first because we made it too easy for their first two goals. We have to play as a team and improve.
“In order not to fail like this, we have to work harder. Against Valencia, we showed something defensively and today we made too many mistakes.”