Real Madrid President Florentino Perez has confirmed the departure of Rafa Benitez and the appointment of Zinedine Zidane as his successor.
Benitez was let go after seven months at Santiago Bernabeu, having been named Carlo Ancelotti’s replacement in June.
He leaves Los Blancos third in the Primera table, four points behind leaders Atletico Madrid and two adrift of Barcelona, who have a game in hand on Los Colchoneros, Benitez’s last game in charge a 2-2 draw with Valencia at Mestalla.
Madrid are also through to the knockout rounds of the Champions League and face Roma in the Round of 16, the first leg taking place in mid-February in Italy.
Los Blancos were however expelled from the Copa del Rey for fielding an ineligible player, Denis Cheryshev playing and scoring against Cadiz when he should have been serving a ban from his time at Villarreal last season.
Zidane, a former assistant to Ancelotti, has been in charge of the Madrid B team, Castilla, leaving the second string second in Segunda B.
The France World Cup winner was also in charge of Castilla last season, when they were relegated from the Segunda division.
