Real Madrid sacks Benitez just seven months after taking charge

MADRID

Rafael Benitez has been sacked as manager of Real Madrid and club legend Zinedine Zidane announced as his replacement.

The former Liverpool and Chelsea boss has endured a tough season at the Bernabeu since taking over in June, and while he only finds his side four points off Atletico at the top of La Liga he has had fallouts with key players and been criticised for a defensive style of football.

Benitez was also denied the chance for another piece of silverware, the Copa del Rey, after an administrative gaffe saw them expelled for fielding an ineligible player against Cadiz.

It leaves the Champions League as their most likely chance of glory this season, but club president Florentino Perez has opted for a change ahead of their round-of-16 tie with Roma next month.

ZINEDINE ZIDANE

An announcement was expected at a press conference at 4:30pm on Monday.

Zidane - the coach of Real Madrid's second team, Castilla took over.

The Frenchman is understood to privately prefer a summer change and the chance to undertake an entire pre-season but won't turn down the chance to manage the ten-time European champions if, as expected, Perez offers him the job.

Real are hosting an open training session at their Valdebebas training ground on Tuesday, which will likely be Zidane's first session with the senior team.

Time was called on Benitez's time in charge after the 2-2 draw with Valencia on Sunday.

Los Blancos twice took the lead through Karim Benzema and then Gareth Bale, but could not see out the game after playing the final 25 minutes with 10 men, following Mateo Kovacic's red card.

The games which cost Rafa Benitez his job at Real Madrid

0-4 vs Barcelona (H), November 21

0-1 vs Villarreal (A), December 13

2-2 vs Valencia (A), January 3