Just after seven months of his service and management, Real Madrid has officially said bye bye to Rafael ‘Rafa’ Benitez.
Too soon? I don’t think that’s the issue for Real as Benitez is the 23rd manager sacked since 1992. The Spaniard’s final game with the Blancos was their Sunday game with Valencia, where they secured a draw 2-2, which proceeded to leave them third in La Liga, four points behind leaders Atletico Madrid and two points behind rivals Barcelona.
Not to worry, perhaps this would be a better news for Madridistas as French legend Zinedine Zidane will be taking over Benitez’s job at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
Zidane, former Real player himself and also part of the team that guided France to their first champion title in the 1998 World Cup, was appointed as soon as the sacking took place. The 43 year-old was a coach for the B-Team and had been promoted as first-team boss.
Zidane would be the 11th coach to be appointed in during Florentino Perez’s 12-year presidency.
Not to mention, since Zidane is in and Benitez is out, we certainly did not forget the dispute between Zidane and Barcelona’s current manager Luis Enrique back when they were playing for their respective teams. El Clasico is definitely the match to watch as we see a sense of emulation between the two.
And regarding the replacement, Twitter certainly has much to say about this:
For starters, here’s a short vine of the fight between Zidane and Enrique
The next #ElClasico will be highly anticipated. Don't mess with Zidane! https://t.co/fmUGH4DH18
— PhilG (@philgontier) January 4, 2016
HAHA Zinedine Zidane gives Rafa Benitez the news.https://t.co/o6obyLaiCP
— Free Super Tips (@FootySuperTips) January 4, 2016
https://twitter.com/BreatheSport/status/684137246945980417
https://twitter.com/FootballFunnys/status/684102013282549761
Rafa Benitez is OUT, Zinedine Zidane is IN at Real Madrid. OUCH!
Promoting from within. How very Barcelona of them. pic.twitter.com/0w8vcFVrfi
— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) January 4, 2016
OFFICIAL: Zinedine Zidane replaces Rafa Benitez as Real Madrid manager pic.twitter.com/RWIxU5GSRe
— FootballFunnys (@FootballFunnnys) January 4, 2016
Florentino Perez will address the media in 30 minutes.
Rafa Benitez, meanwhile. #RMCF pic.twitter.com/qAiRCiP8Gz
— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 4, 2016
Was this the man who pushed Rafa Benitez over the edge at Real Madrid? pic.twitter.com/cFExDV9VdL
— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 4, 2016
Real Madrid fans react to the news that Rafa Benitez is being sacked today! pic.twitter.com/ej4XkP7HsT
— FootballFunnys (@FootballFunnnys) January 4, 2016
Rafa Benitez's season in a vine…https://t.co/oyQrFA0P84
— Futbol Vines (@FutboIVines) January 3, 2016
F/T: #RealMadrid 3-1 #RealSociedad
Rafa Benitez lives to fight another day. RM go top of La Liga. Happy Days. https://t.co/WvVb57KKe7
— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 30, 2015
https://twitter.com/Footy_Jokes/status/682216732434370560
Will Zidane be a better manager? We’ll see soon enough.
Other posts by Michelle Liew