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SYDNEY. — Zinedine Zidane will be a “top-class manager”, former France coach Gerard Houllier predicted yesterday, saying the football legend had taken all the right steps before becoming Real Madrid boss.

The 43-year-old former “Galactico” with Real Madrid was appointed head coach at the La Liga club on Monday following the sacking of Rafael Benitez after just seven months in charge. Houllier, who is in Sydney as coach of a Liverpool “legends” side playing today, said the former attacking midfielder Zidane – whom he coached as manager of the French national side in the early 1990s – had bided his time before assuming the top job at the Spanish side. He did the right thing. He became an assistant manager first, then he became the coach of the second team (Castilla) for two years.” — AFP.