As expected, the axe has fallen on Rafa Benitez at the Bernabeu, with the Real Madrid manager given the chop after just half a season in the hot-seat, to be replaced by ex-Galactico Zinedine Zidane.
Finding themselves (only) four points behind La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid, and only two behind rivals Barcelona, trigger-happy club president Florentino Perez and the Real board showed their trademark lack of patience in giving former Liverpool boss Benitez the chop. However, whatever the rights or wrongs of that sacking, the promotion of B-Team boss Zidane to the top job is exciting in the extreme.
A Champions League and La Liga winner with Los Merengues, the 43-year-old Zidane has been learning the coaching ropes with the club’s Castilla side, who currently find themselves second in the second-tier of Spanish football.
Now, the World Cup winner and Bernabeu legend takes charges of the big boys, although no details about the length of his contract has been made public. On accepting the post, Zidane said:
I am going to put my heart and soul into this job so that everything works out well.
No doubt the Madridista’s will be hoping for more moments of magic like this from Zizou’s boys…
While the Frenchman prepares for his side’s home league clash with Deportivo La Coruna, Benitez will now be on the look-out for yet another job. Following a disappointing tenure with Napoli and now this early exit from Real, the Spaniard’s stock will no doubt have fallen somewhat. However, expect more than one Premier League club to be eyeing the 55-year-old (Swansea maybe?).
(video: Quan Pham)