Real Madrid fires Rafael Benitez, hires Zinedine Zidane as coach
Real Madrid has sacked coach Rafael Benitez after just seven months in charge and replaced the Spaniard with soccer club legend Zinedine Zidane.
Fan hero Zidane, who was Carlo Ancelotti’s assistant in 2014 when Real Madrid won the Champions League, was promoted on Monday from his job as coach of Real Madrid’s B team in the third division.
The former World Cup winner was at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium of Real Madrid with his wife and four kids for the announcement.
“I’m more emotional now than when I signed as a player,” said the 43-year-old French, who finished his career at Real Madrid in 2006.
It will be the first crucial coaching job for the former playmaker. The length of the contract has not been made public.
Zidane joined Real from Juventus in August 2001 and played a vital role when the club won its ninth European title by his stunning volley against Bayer Leverkusen in the 2002 Champions League final.
Benitez, 55, replaced Carlo Ancelotti at the end of last season, but his excessively defensive tactics did not sit well with the Real fans.
Real Madrid is currently third in the Spanish league, four points behind leader Atletico Madrid and two behind Barcelona, which has played one less game.
Zidane's first challenge will be Saturday's La Liga game at home to seventh-placed Deportivo La Coruña.
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