After the rumours spread throughout the past weeks, the call has been made: Rafa Benítez is reportedly no longer Real Madrid’s coach after a draw in Mestalla.
The team’s board called an emergency meeting to decide the future of former Chelsea and Liverpool coach. After disappointing results, an administrative gaffe that saw them expelled from the Copa del Rey for fielding (Cheryshev) an ineligible player against Cadiz and, most important, the fallouts he had with some of the locker room's heavyweights, Florentino Perez and his board have sacked the Spanish manager.
The 55-year old coach has faced a very complicated season and could only keep his job for seven months. His place will be taken by former Real Madrid star Zinedine Zidane.
This was nowhere near Real Madrid’s plan for the season, even though Benítez was just meant to be the coach for this season and that it was Zinedine Zidane the guy meant to replace him. The reason is no other than time and experience: Florentino Pérez wanted the frenchman to be more prepared when he had to step up.
Let’s see if the board’s decision to call time on Benitez tenure won’t ruin the future of Zidane by sending him to a Real Madrid in a complicated situation a little too soon.
