Ex-Real Madrid president is sure that Mourinho will arrive if Zidane fails

Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon is sure that Jose Mourinho will arrive at the Bernabeu if Zinedine Zidane fails in his stint as manager. He told this to BBC Radio 5 Live after Zizou was officially appointed.

Calderon believes that Mourinho was first choice for the job but turned it down.

He expressed his skepticism over the radio: "I wish Zidane all the best but it will be difficult. If he is not successful then Jose Mourinho will be on the bench in June, I am sure. It is a great opportunity for Zidane [but] he lacks experience as a coach. That is a problem."

Calderon was Madrid president between 2006 and 2009, a period that saw the club win successive La Liga titles in 2007 and 2008. Clearly he still retains an interest in how the club, and his rival Florentino Perez, do.

He continued, criticising Perez: "Florentino Perez is an engineer, he is not a professional."

"He decided to sack Carlo Ancelotti when everyone loved him. They changed Rafael Benitez but no-one is advising who is the right man to be there."

Zidane does seem like a gamble. One of the greatest players of all time, the Frenchman's only coaching appearance has come in charge of Madrid's Castilla side but he has got something Benitez hadn't: the respect of the players.