Dubai: Former Spain and Real Madrid star Michel Salgado has backed his former team-mate Zinedine Zidane to succeed at Santiago Bernabeu.

The 40-year-old Salgado, who was an essential part of the Los Galacticos era along with the Frenchman, said he is fully convinced Zidane can bring trophies to Real.

“He has had a fantastic start. There are two elements here. One is the coach and the other is the commitment of the players. After playing at the top-most level, Zidane knows what it takes for another player to give his whole-hearted commitment. And today his record as the new coach at Real Madrid stands as testimony,” Salgado told media while attending the du Football Champions announcement held on Thursday.

Zidane replaced Rafael Benitez in the first week of January, and since then has had an unbeaten run with Real Madrid winning four and drawing one match of the five La Liga matches played under him so far. Prior to taking over the reins, Zidane worked as an assistant to Benitez’s predecessor Carlo Ancelotti, and, since 2014, occupied the post of coach at Real Madrid reserves.

“He [Zidane] is a charismatic personality. He had the magic on the field as a player and now he has so quickly learnt the important quality of motivating top-quality players as a coach. You may say I am biased because I have always been at Real Madrid, but that is what is behind the success of such a big club,” Salgado added.

During a 15-year period in Spain, Salgado – who appeared in 343 La Liga matches, scoring seven goals – represented the Spanish team on 53 occasions. He was a member of the Spanish national side that won the 2006 Fifa World Cup and the 2008 European Championship.

After 23 rounds of La Liga, Barcelona are in prime position at the top of the table with 54 points and an extra game in hand. Atletico Madrid are in second with 51 points, while Real Madrid are within striking distance in third with 50.

Salgado, however, would not go quite as far as saying Zidane could win the league this season, depsite his insistence he will succeed.

“There is a long time between now and May 10 (when the last round of the league takes place),” he said. “From experience we all know that no game is over till the final whistle has been blown. Zidane has just taken over and it would be unfair to judge him from here. But knowing him after playing with him for six years, I expect him to bring something special in this second part of the season for Real Madrid,” Salgado said.