A Chelsea legend is reportedly in advanced talks over a swift return to management with Cardiff City.
The former Blues star left his previous managerial job this week after just three games in charge.
However, he has now seemingly been lined up to replace Erol Bulut, who was sacked by Cardiff on September 22.
Whoever Cardiff decide to appoint will face a tough task, with the club currently bottom of the Championship.
The Bluebirds have won just one of their nine Championship games so far this campaign, with that victory coming against Millwall under the guidance of caretaker boss Omer Riza.
A Chelsea legend is reportedly in talks over a return to management with Cardiff City
The former Blues star could replace Erol Bulut, who was sacked by Cardiff last month
As reported by Foot Mercato, Claude Makelele is in talks over the Cardiff job.
Makelele was appointed as the manager of Greek side Asteras Tripolis last month and won one and drew two of his three matches in charge.
However, the former midfielder decided to quit as he was unhappy with interference from club chiefs.
Makelele told London World: ‘I love the job, but I can’t accept when people interfere and tell me what I can or cannot do.
‘They promised me full control of the team. It was (supposed to be) my decision who played or didn’t play.’
Makelele was especially frustrated when club officials insisted that youngster Darnell Eric Bile should be on the bench against Athens Kallithea.
He said: ‘In the last game, they insisted a key player [Darnell Eric Bile] should be benched.
‘The player has a small amateur salary, but he’s the best player in the team. I brought him on for just 20 minutes – he got two assists, and we won the game.
Chelsea legend Claude Makelele is in talks with Cardiff after quitting his job at Asteras Tripolis
Makelele had a spell at Cardiff’s rivals Swansea in 2017 as assistant to Paul Clement
‘But they didn’t want him (to play). They thought they could control whether he plays because he hadn’t signed a (new) contract. I used him because of his quality.’
Makelele previously had spells as manager of Bastia and Eupen.
Intriguingly, he worked for Cardiff’s rivals Swansea in 2017 as an assistant to Paul Clement.
He later returned to Chelsea as a youth coach and technical mentor.
Makelele enjoyed a hugely successful playing career, which included him winning an array of trophies with Chelsea and Real Madrid, while he was also capped by France on 71 occasions.
The impact that he made was recognised by the defensive midfield position sometimes being referred to as ‘the Makelele role’.
