Zinedine Zidane could succeed Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid

Zinedine Zidane is being lined up to be Carlo Ancelotti’s successor at Real Madrid, according to Sky Sports Spanish soccer expert Graham Hunter.

Ancelotti has been under criticism for the past several months for failing to rotate his squad and being unable to find a solution to his team’s attacking problems.

Although Madrid embarked on a record-breaking 22-match winning streak during the first half of the season, they were surpassed by Barcelona on the La Liga table this weekend and have been struggling to find consistency since the turn of the New Year.

Speaking on Sky Sports Revista de La Liga, Hunter insisted Real Madrid would prefer to Zidane – who is currently in charge of the reserve team – to have more experience before taking over control of the club. However, if the team continues to falter, the club legend could replace Ancelotti as the Spanish giant’s boss

“It’s not about candidates, it’s a candidate,” Hunter said when asked about possible replacements for Ancelotti. “The succession plan is Zinedine Zidane. He’s in charge of Castilla B (Real Madrid’s reserves). It’s a formal plan and everyone knows this to be the case.”

Zidane remains a key figure at the club, playing a significant role in the recruitment of young talent to Madrid. However, Hunter admits it is too soon for the former France international to assume control of the senior squad.

“They want him to gain more experience,” Hunter added. I think he wants to gain more.

“Therefore maybe there’s a small chance that if Ancelotti is in a risk in the summer, they’ll say, ‘we’ll wait a year with him’. And Zizou will come through.”

Programming note: Real Madrid vs. Schalke 04 will be shown LIVE today starting at 3:45pm EST on FOX Sports 1 and FoxSoccer2Go.