Real Madrid Likely To Sack Rafa Benitez, Zinedine Zidane May Take Charge

Blind faith that Zidane can recreate his playing success as a coach is all club president Florentino Perez has left with his credit running low as Barca have dominated in Spain over the past decade despite Perez’s lavish spending on transfer fees.

Real president Florentino Perez said: “I am here to say that the board has just decided, in a hard decision, especially for me, to end contract of Rafa as first-team coach”.

“Without any doubt Zidane is one of the greatest figures in the history of football”.

The former World Cup victor was at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium of Real Madrid with his wife and four kids for the announcement.

They also trail eternal rivals Barcelona by two points having played a game more.

Zidane, who was Carlo Ancelotti’s assistant in 2014 when Madrid won the Champions League, has been coaching Madrid’s “B” team in the third division.

Pressure has been mounting on Benitez for several weeks with the club trailing Atletico Madrid and Barcelona and Real Madrid supporters have been clamouring for change.

Rafael Benitez has been sacked as the manager of Real Madrid, after a string of poor performances saw the team slip four points away from the top of the table, to the uncharacteristic third spot.

Real Madrid are generally available at 11-2 to win the Champions League this season and they have a kind draw in the last 16 against Roma with Zidane’s side 1-5 to progress through to the quarter-finals. The 43-year-old former playmaker kept dismissing the possibility of taking over Benitez, but always made it clear that his ultimate goal was to coach the main team. From here I want to acknowledge the work and dedication of Rafa Benitez during these months as coach of Real Madrid.

Zidane’s first game in charge will at the Bernabeu against Deportivo La Coruna on January 9th.

“It’s an emotional day, even more emotional than the day I signed for the club”. “I’m going to give my whole heart for this club to try and make sure everything turns out well”, promised the former Real Madrid player.