Real hires Solari as coach until 2021
His anointment as sacked Lopetegui’s permanent successor comes after wins in his first four matches
Real Madrid says it has given coach Santiago Solari a permanent contract until June 2021.
Solari was appointed as the interim coach two weeks ago to replace the fired Julen Lopetegui and has led the team to four straight victories, putting it back on track in the Spanish league and the Champions League.
The 42-year-old Solari is a former Argentina international who played for Real Madrid between 2000 and 2005. He had previously coached Madrid’s “B’’ team.
The rookie coach was promoted from within on an initially interim basis, but after talks broke down with Antonio Conte the Argentine was given a prolonged spell to make his case and Madrid have decided to retain him until the end of next season.
Solari has presided over four wins from four games with a goal difference of +13 since taking over in the wake of Lopetegui’s sacking. The 42-year-old could barely have done more to impress Florentino Perez, who is understood to have only ever wanted a coach until the end of the season - a key sticking point in negotiations with Conte, who the players also had significant doubts over.
The Argentine has started life at Santiago Bernabeu with four wins from four matches, and will now continue on a long-term basis
Santiago Solari has signed a three-year contract to remain Real Madrid manager through the 2020-21 season.
As Madrid’s search for a permanent boss failed to bear fruit, Solari has impressed by restoring an air of calm to the dressing room following a tumultuous period under Lopetegui.
Real Madrid director Emilio Butragueno had said the club are delighted with Santiago Solari’s spell in charge after the team posted their fourth consecutive win by beating Celta Vigo on Sunday.
Madrid claimed a 4-2 victory at Balaidos and the expectation is Solari will now be given the job full-time, following a transformation in results.
Four victories during his tenure have brought 15 goals scored and just two conceded while Real have cut the gap behind Barcelona to four points in La Liga.
The win over Celta was the club’s last fixture before Solari’s two weeks as an interim coach ends during the international break.
“He has done excellently,” Butragueno said on Sunday. “He arrived in a very particular moment and has achieved very good results, above all today against Celta in a very difficult game. We are very happy with how things have gone.”