MADRID -- Real Madrid on Monday confirmed Zinedine Zidane as their third first team coach of the season, just over nine months after he resigned from the club saying it "needed a change."

The shock news of Zidane's return as the replacement for Santiago Solari, who loses his job after slightly more than three months in charge, was confirmed on the Real Madrid official website.

"The Real Madrid Board of Directors has decided to resolve the contract which linked Santiago Solari to the club as first team coach and at the same time Real Madrid have offered him the chance to remain part of the club."