By Andrew Warshaw
January 5 – Once again, a hugely experienced and knowledgable coach has been unable to make it at Real Madrid where demands are possibly higher than anywhere else.
Rafa Benitez, who won the Champions League with Liverpool a decade ago, has been dismissed by the Spanish giants after less than half a season in charge and replaced by the club’s former playing hero Zinedine Zidane who was already on the coaching staff.
Real president Florentino Perez (pictured right with Zidane) announced the dismissal of Benitez, who had a contract until June 2018, following a board meeting and Zidane was present at a news conference called by the club shortly afterwards.
“What we need to do now, and what I will try to do, is try to do my best so that this team is a winner at the end of the season,” said Zidane who played for Real for five seasons and helped them win their ninth European crown against Bayer Leverkusen in the 2002 Champions League final.
“I will put all the heart I have into the job for this club and try to make sure things work out well.”
Zidane is the 11th coach Perez has installed during two terms in charge and represents somewhat of a risk given it will be the former France captain’s first top-flight management job. He retired from international football after the 2006 World Cup, having been sent off in the final for famously headbutting Italian defender Marco Materazzi.
Benitez took over from Carlo Ancelotti last summer after spells with Valencia, Liverpool, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Napoli but failed to find the level of consistency or produced the kind of playing style Real demands. In recent weeks, disgruntled fans have been calling for his exit and matters came to a head on Sunday when Real drew 2-2 at Valencia which left them third in the table.
Zidane, promoted from his role as coach of Real’s B team who play in Spain’s third division, now has the chance to follow up a stellar career on the pitch with one of the most glamorous coaching jobs but has work cut after the likes of Benitez, Ancelotti and Jose Mourinho – three of Europe’s most experienced and astute coaches – all ended up being forced out of the Bernabeu.
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