Zidane replaces Benitez as Real Madrid manager

  

Real Madrid have this Monday sacked Rafael Benitez after just six months in charge. Speculation have been rife for months now that he would not last the first year of his three year contract, following the 2-2 draw with Valencia on Sunday where they led twice, the club scheduled a press conference Monday evening, where his dismissal was announced.

The former Liverpool, Inter, Valencia and Napoli manager's appointment was never a popular one amongst the Madrid fans and some players. He was reported to have ostracised James Rodriguez and Isco from the squad, as they did not feature regularly while his stay lasted.

Despite starting his stint at Madrid with several unbeaten games, he was accused by the fans and media of being too defensive, but he had the positive of being unbeaten and sturdy at the back as his strong points. However, the 4-0 defeat to Barcelona in the first el-Classico of the season at the Santiago Bernabeu did not help his cause, and this further increased the pressure on him, with fans booing his name at the beginning of matches in Madrid anytime it was announced.

Just last week, he accused the media of  targeting him and the club, but in the end the fans ultimately got their way as he has now being shown the way out of the club.

It is another of several managers that Florentino Perez has sacked over the years as president of the club, many had argued that Rafael Benitez was not an improvement on Carlo Ancelotti judging by his style and tactics, little wonder he has lasted just six months at the helm.

He leaves Real Madrid just four points behind league leaders, Atletico Madrid.

With Zidane as the new manager having been promoted from the B team of the club, it remains to be seen whether Florentino Perez got ride of Benitez to assuage the fans, or whether it was a purely sporting decision.

In the end, it is a premature end for yet another manager at the Santiago Bernabeu, with coaches like Fabio Capello, Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and now Benitez being coaching casualties at the club.