Zinedine Zidane Named Real Madrid’s New Coach

Rafael Benitez has been sacked as manager of Real Madrid after just seven months in charge, with club legend Zinedine Zidane replacing him.

The news comes a day after Madrid drew 2-2 with Valencia and less than two months after the embarrassing 4-0 home loss to Barcelona in November.

2-2 draw with Valencia proved to be Benitez’s last game in the charge of the 10-time European champion – which sits third in the Spanish First Division, four points behind leader Atletico Madrid.

However, numerous players fell out of the Portuguese and Zidane, who has been connected with the club ever since his then world record move in 2001 has been associated with Madrid as an ambassador and a youth team coach.

In the five years before his retirement, he helped Real win the league in 2003 and was named Federation Internationale de Football Association world player of the year for a third time.

“Zidane is, without any doubt, one of the greatest figures in the history of football and he knows better than anybody what it means to lead the Real Madrid first team and how tough it is”, he said. The 43 year-old was a coach for the B-Team and had been promoted as first-team boss.

Benitez, 55, replaced Carlo Ancelotti at the end of last season, but his excessively defensive tactics did not sit well with the Real fans. I will put all my heart into this club.

“I want to thank the club and thank the president for giving me the opportunity to train this club”, the Frenchman told reporters at his unveiling.

He was also part of Real Madrid sides that won La Liga and the Champions League. Zinedine Zidane, this is your stadium and this is your club.

“Zidane was a great player not only for our club but also for France”.

“I will work hard with all the players and I think it will go well. The most important thing is to get down to work with the team tomorrow”.

“Zinedine Zidane this is your stadium, your club, you have all our confidence, madridismo is at your side”.

The president has been criticised for firing managers without good reason in the past including Spanish manager’s predecessor Ancelotti, who spent just two seasons in charge and was still shown the exit door despite winning the Champions League, Copa Del Rey, Supercup and FIFA Club World Cup.