Rafa Benitez out, Zinedine Zidane in as Real Madrid coach

Madrid and France legend Zidane was confirmed as Rafael Benitez’s successor on Monday after the Spaniard paid the price for a mixed seventh months in charge.

Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Valencia, when Real twice surrendered the lead, left them third in the standings, four points behind leaders Atletico Madrid and two behind champions Barcelona, who have a game in hand. The length of his contract has not been made public.

“I will put all my heart into this job and for the club”.

No doubt the Madridista’s will be hoping for more moments of magic like this from Zizou’s boys…

Zidane’s first game in charge will at the Bernabeu against Deportivo La Coruna on January 9th. However, expect more than one Premier League club to be eyeing the 55-year-old (Swansea maybe?).

Speaking at a brief press conference Zidane said: “I want to thank the club and thank the president for giving me the opportunity to train this club”.

A picture taken on December 30, 2015 shows Real Madrid’s coach Rafael Benitez during the Spanish league soccer match against Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium.

Madrid have been grooming Zidane for the position for two-and-a-half years and Perez has never hidden the fact he saw the legendary Frenchman as their future boss.

“Real Madrid is the best club in the world with the best fan base in the world and I will do my best to make sure we end the season with a trophy”.

Perez said he had “total confidence” in Zidane, despite his lack of top-line coaching experience.

Real Madrid is now a joke to all coaches.No reasonable coach with a reputation to protect will take a job where stability do not exist.

Former Real Madrid midfielder David Beckham has praised the club’s decision to appoint his old team-mate Zinedine Zidane as manager.

Former Liverpool coach Benitez endured an uneasy relationship with Real’s fans, not helped by November’s crushing 4-0 defeat to archrival Barcelona.

Zidane, who played 225 games for Real Madrid between 2001 and 2006, pledged to devote himself to steering the club toward success.

Right from the start of his reign in June, Benitez struggled to gain the respect of Madrid’s star-studded squad with many senior players voicing their displeasure at the sacking of his predecessor Ancelotti.