Real Madrid confirm Zinedine Zidane replaces Rafa Benitez as manager at the Bernabeu

REAL MADRID have confirmed Zinedine Zidane has taken over as their interim manager until the end of the season after sacking Raf Benitez.

 

Zinedine Zidane has taken over as Real Madrid manager

 

The former Liverpool boss guided Madrid to third place, four points behind leaders Atletico and two behind Barcelona who have a game in hand, after 18 league games having replaced Carlo Ancelotti in the summer.

Benitez, whose seven months in charge came to an end this evening, oversaw the 2-2 draw with Gary Neville's Valencia on Sunday but the writing had been on the wall for weeks.

The 4-0 Clasico defeat on November 21 at the Bernabeu looked like being the nail in the coffin but Benitez held on for another six weeks.

 

Since that result Madrid's form has picked up with six wins in their next eight games including a 10-2 thrashing of Rayo Vallecano. 

But tonight Zidane, who was managing their Castilla side in the Spanish third tier, has taken the reins.

Florentino Perez said: Perez: “Hello and welcome. I invite you all here today to announce that we have terminated the contract of Rafa Benitez.

“I would like to make it clear that he is a great professional.”

Zidane was assistant to Ancelotti last season and completed his pro licence course in May making him eligible to lead the team.

 

He had worked as assistant to Jose Mourinho previously but the two fell out before the Portuguese left his post and Zidane began working with the B team.

Zidane played for Madrid for five years between 2001 and 2006 winning one league title and the 2002 Champions League.

He scored the iconic volley at Hampden Park in the victory over Bayer Leverkusen to seal the club's ninth European title.

“He is one of the greatest players of all time,” says Perez. “Zidane, you are from this moment, the coach of Real Madrid.”

Zidane: “I’m going to do everything I can to make the best for this club.

“It’s a very important day for me. What I can tell you is that I will give everything or this club.

“Ever since I arrived as a player I knew how great this club was.

“We have the best fans in the world and the best club in the world and I’ll do everything to win.”