Rafa dumped after just six months
Madrid Castilla. The change — the 12th sacking at Real in 12 years — may have mixed consequences for Manchester City and Manchester United. City had seen their chances of signing unsettled midfielder Isco increase in recent weeks but he is now likely to stay in Madrid under Zidane. Bale was at times a lone supporter of Benitez’s methods and man-management style. Midfielder James Rodriguez moaned when Benitez said he was a few training sessions off full fitness after returning from international duty. Forward Jese refused to come on and play at left-back when Madrid lost Marcelo to cramp late in a game against Villarreal. And Isco was caught sniggering on the bench when Real Madrid conceded against Rayo Vallecano. Benitez will say goodbye to staff at Real Madrid’s Valdebebas training ground today and then head back to England where he would like to continue his managerial career. He could now be a target for Swansea City and Aston Villa, though neither job is likely to appeal to the former Champions League winner. Zidane said: ‘I will put all the heart I have into this job. ‘I want to thank the club and the president for giving me the opportunity to train this club. ‘It’s the best club in the world with the best fan-base in the world. I want to do my very best to ensure that at the end of the season we will have a trophy.’ Perez paid tribute to the 55-year-old former Liverpool boss as ‘an absolute professional and a wonderful person’, before handing responsibility for reviving the club’s fortunes to Zidane. He said: ‘Zinedine Zidane is a man who knows better than anyone what it means to stand at the front and lead Real Madrid. ‘It is a difficult squad to lead, but he throughout his career and throughout his life also has always been able to face up to huge challenges. ‘Zinedine Zidane, this is your club, this is your stadium and you have all our support. ‘Zidane, you are from this moment the trainer, the manager of Real Madrid. ‘The word ‘impossible’ does not exist for you, Zinedine Zidane.’
RAFA BENITEZ was last night sacked by Real Madrid after just six months in the job but Jose Mourinho was overlooked as the Spanish club named Zinedine Zidane as their new boss. Now, the departure of Benitez could pave the way for Manchester United to make a move for Gareth Bale, who is upset by the move to dispense with the coach. Benitez’s final act as Madrid coach was to fail to beat Gary Neville’s Valencia on Sunday night but his fate was sealed by a string of poor results — including a 4-0 home defeat by Barcelona — and a failure to win over one of football’s most difficult dressing rooms. Trigger-happy Madrid president Florentino Perez was tempted by the idea of re-hiring Mourinho, but the fear that he might divide the club left Zidane as the only choice. This is despite reservations about how prepared the 43-year-old Frenchman is for the top job after an underwhelming spell in charge of the club’s B team, Real