Real Madrid set to appoint Guti as Zinedine Zidane successor, claims Real Murcia president Victor Galvez

Real Madrid are set to appoint club legend Guti as their next manager, according to Real Murcia president Victor Galvez.

As reported by The Sun, Real Murcia president Victor Galvez has revealed that Real Madrid have zeroed in on Zinedine Zidane’s successor. Jose Maria Gutierrez Hernandez, better known as Guti, is set to be appointed as the next Los Blancos boss, with Galvez left disappointed in their bid to secure his services.

Guti had enjoyed a legendary 15-year career with the Real Madrid first-team, featuring over 500 times for the Spanish heavyweights. One of the best players of his generation, the Spaniard won 15 trophies with Los Blancos, but could never manage to become a regular in the Spanish National Side.

Upon leaving Real Madrid, Guti also played for Besiktas for a season before hanging up his boots. Since his retirement, he has turned his attention towards management, and has been a part of the Real Madrid youth setup for four years now, managing the club’s Juvenil A side till last season.

His managerial performance in the youth setup had impressed many in the club hierarchy as well as then-Real Madrid manager, who had insisted in February that Guti has what it takes to be at the helm at the Bernabeu.

“Yes, I see him [as being] He is preparing himself to be a coach in the future and it could be at Real Madrid. He’s in good shape, he’s someone who is from this club, he’s always been here and one day it will be his dream as well.”

As it now stands, Zidane has left called it quits as the Real Madrid boss, shockingly handing in his resignation just five days after he had guided Los Blancos to their record breaking, third successive Champions League triumph.

Zidane’s departure has sent the Real Madrid board into a frenzied state, with several names – prominent and otherwise – being mooted as the next manager. Among these, were Jurgen Klopp, Mauricio Pochettino, Massimiliano Allegri and Antonio Conte, among others.

While their preference were Klopp and Pochettino, both managers are reportedly happy at their respective clubs and are not looking to force through a move to Real Madrid. Allegri, too, is unavailable, while the European champions have their doubts about Conte, making Guti one of their best available options.

The 41-year-old has already iterated that he won’t be coaching the Real Madrid Juvenil A side next season, possibly looking for a job as a senior manager. Scottish side St. Mirren were surprisingly linked with him while Real Murcia were interested as well, but the Spanish third-division club’s president Victor Galvez has claimed that Guti will coach the Real Madrid first-team next season.

“Guti will be the coach of Real Madrid so he won’t coach Murcia. I wish Zidane had stayed for two more days so that we could’ve completed the deal for Guti.”

If appointed, Guti will take a similar trajectory as Zidane, who managed the Real Madrid Castilla side before becoming the first-team coach. Real Madrid fans would now be hoping that the club legend is able to continue his predecessor’s success, should he take over at the Bernabeu.