A managerial shuffle at the Bernabeu has resulted in the sacking of infamous Rafa Benitez, with club legend and Castilla manager Zinedine Zidane taking over the reins of the club.
Real Madrid’s failure to secure a win over Valencia in their last game turned out to be the final nail in the coffin for Spaniard Rafa Benitez. He was appointed the manager of the club before the start of this season after Madrid parted ways with Carlo Ancelotti at the end of last season against the wishes of players and fans. Benitez was not a popular choice among the fans and managed to stay in the job for a mere seven months.
The draw at Valencia meant Real Madrid failed to close the gap, with Barcelona also failing to register all three points that game day. With Madrid sitting third in the league behind Barcelona and cross-city rivals Atletico Madrid, the bosses at the club were expected to make a decision sooner rather than later. A number of players were also unhappy with Benitez’s style and had reportedly expressed their feelings to club president Florentino Perez.
Rafa Benitez would be devastated with the news, as he would be hoping for a little more time with the club. Considering the fact that Benitez has remained a fan of Real Madrid since he was little kid, it makes his sacking even more heartbreaking for the former Liverpool manager. Benitez has done well at the clubs where he has worked before, and his work at Madrid cannot be considered a failure, either. However, Real Madrid is a club where a manager cannot breathe and live to see another day after making small mistakes. The Spanish giants are famous for sacking coaches, with the club sacking the likes of Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti in recent years, despite the fact that the duo won them a number of titles during their time with the club.
The new manager coming in will, however, receive a warm welcome from players and fans alike. Zinedine Zidane was a fan favorite during his time with Real Madrid as a player, as he won them a number of titles playing alongside the first of the Glacticos to grace Bernabeu. There were calls from a number of circles to appoint the former France midfielder to be handed the reins of the club before the start of this season, but the club hierarchy opted for Benitez instead. Now, Zidane has his chance, but he should be feeling the pressure already by just looking at what happened to his predecessors at the club.
Everyone has been praising Zidane’s appointment, with his former teammate David Beckham hailing the Frenchman as the best man for the job.
“Does it get any better than this? A man that has been the best at a game we all love, taking over of a club that myself and many more people love. Someone with drive, passion and also doesn’t accept failure on any level. Taking over from a manager that has huge experience and respect in the game, but taking on a position that he will relish… The best person for the job.”
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