Zidane to coach Real reserves

MADRID June - Zinedine Zidane has been appointed coach of Real Madrid's third divsion reserve team Castilla, the European champions said Wednesday.

Zidane, 42, played for Real between 2001 and 2006, and was assistant last season to head coach Carlo Ancelotti.

He was poised to accept an offer from French club Girondins de Bordeaux recently, but has been persuaded by Real president Florentino Perez to stay in Madrid.

It will be Zidane's first coaching position. Perez has often spoken of him as a possible future head coach of Real.

The mission of Real Madrid Castilla is to develop players for Real's first team. They were relegated from the second division last season.