Zinedine Zidane IN Rafael Benitez OUT as Real Madrid manager

Zinedine Zidane has replaced Rafael Benitez as manager of Real Madrid following the Spaniard's sacking after just seven months in charge.

Benitez's last match as boss saw Real twice throw away a lead as they drew 2-2 at Gary Neville's Valencia on Sunday evening, leaving the club four points off leaders Atletico Madrid in La Liga.

 

Real Madrid's new coach Zinedine Zidane addresses the press at the Bernabeu

Zidane, who made 225 appearances for the club, was managing Real Madrid Castilla, but has now been promoted to manager of the 10-time European champions.

 

In his 25 games at the helm, Rafael Benitez saw Real Madrid win 17 

In his 25 games into a three-year contract, Benitez led Real to 17 wins, five draws and three defeats at a win percentage of 68, the seventh-highest in the club's history.

Zidane will sign a two-and-a-half year deal on Tuesday to become Real Madrid's 13th manager this century, with the club having won just one league title in the previous seven seasons.

R Madrid vs Deportivo

January 9, 2016, 7:15pm  

The Frenchman said at the club's press conference: "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 for this club.  

Guillem Balague believes Zinedine Zidane will find it difficult to inspire the Real Madrid team

"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.

"I am going to put my heart and soul into this job so that everything works out well."


Zidane (L) with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez


 Club president Florentino Perez said of Zidane: "He is one of the greatest players of all time. Zidane, you are from this moment, the coach of Real Madrid."

And of Benitez, Perez added: "I would like to make it clear that he is a great professional."

La Liga table

	Team	Played	Points
1	Atletico Madrid	18	41
2	Barcelona	17	39
3	Real Madrid	18	37
4	Villarreal	18	36

Benitez, 55, took over from Carlo Ancelotti in the summer of 2015 after the Italian was sacked in May, and the former Liverpool boss went unbeaten in his first 14 games in charge.

He also guided Real to the knockout stages of the Champions League, dropping just two points as they topped Group A.

 But Benitez's low point was Real's humiliating 4-0 defeat by rivals Barcelona in November's Clasico at the Bernabeu, adding to league defeats at Sevilla and Villarreal.

Last five Real Madrid managers

Manager	Years	Win percentage
Juande Ramos	2008-2009	66
Manuel Pellegrini	2009-2010	75
Jose Mourinho	2010-2013	72
Carlo Ancelotti	2013-2015	75
Rafael Benitez	2015-2016	68

Benitez's last action was Real's 2-2 draw at Gary Neville's Valencia on Sunday evening

 Further disappointment was to follow when Madrid were thrown out of the Copa del Rey for fielding ineligible player Denis Cheryshev against Cadiz last month.

Real's next game is against seventh-place Deportivo at the Bernabeu on Saturday

 Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon told on Monday said he believes Jose Mourinho would have been the best option to replace Benitez. 

"People were very unhappy when Ancelotti was sacked," Calderon said. "He [Benitez] wasn't the first option, and the main problem is the president doesn't know which coach to choose.  

Real Madrid manager La Liga win percentages  

"Zidane was a great, great player but he's been coaching for only two years. So perhaps it's too much to give him the responsibility of Real Madrid.

"It's his best option [to get Mourinho]. I think for Mourinho it's a difficult moment to decide, but I'm sure the president has offered it to him. Maybe Mourinho is waiting for Manchester United, it's been his main aim."