Real Madrid appoint Santiago Solari as permanent manager until 2021

The rookie coach was promoted from within on an initially interim basis but has now been handed the reins full-time

Santiago Solari has overseen four wins at Madrid since taking over (Getty)

Real Madrid have confirmed the appointment of Santiago Solari as their permanent manager following his successful spell in caretaker charge.

Following the departure of Julen Lopetegui last month, Solari has now been handed the reins full-time until June 2021.

The rookie coach was promoted from within on an initially interim basis, but after talks broke down with Antonio Conte the Argentinean 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.

Conte formally conceded defeat in the pursuit of the Madrid job this week.

“Real Madrid? As I see it, it is better to wait until the end of the season than to take a train running now,” he told Sky Italia.

“I want to wait for June and start again with a new project. In three months I could change my mind and deny everything, but I've always thought of it this way.”

It is still expected that the Bernabeu club will make a strong play for Mauricio Pochettino of Tottenham next summer, but Solari now has the opportunity to convince them that they have the right man over a longer period of time.

Madrid's upturn in form has seen them rise to sixth in La Liga, four points off leaders Barcelona.