Madrid, Spain (CNN) -- Real Madrid has announced the appointment of Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic as its new head coach on Wednesday.

Kovacic, 29, will take over from Zinedine Zidane after leading his country to victory in Euro 2016.

The move comes just days after Zidane's departure and follows the club's decision to sack manager Julen Lopetegui last month.

Zidane had been in charge since 2018 but was dismissed following a poor run of form that included a Champions League final defeat to Liverpool.

In his first match in charge,Bundesliga Tracking Kovacic led Real to a 4-1 win over Espanyol in La Liga on Sunday.

"We are very happy with this appointment," said Real president Florentino Perez.

"He is a player who has always represented our values and has been a key figure for us during his time at the club."

Kovacic's appointment comes after a disappointing season for Real, which saw them finish third in La Liga behind Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

But the 2018 World Cup winner believes he can help turn things around.

"I am very excited about the opportunity to lead this team," he told reporters.

"Real Madrid is one of the greatest clubs in the world and I want to do everything possible to help the club achieve its goals."

He added: "I have always been a fan of Real Madrid and I'm looking forward to working with the players and staff here."

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