In an announcement made by club president Fiorentino Perez, manager Rafael Benitez has been relieved of his duties of the ten time European champions after just seven months in charge and only hours after their 2-2 draw against Valencia CF at the Estadio Mestalla.
Benitez suffered from a turbulent relationship with the fans at Madrid, with suggestions that his relationship with a number of key players at the club has also be soured.
The former Liverpool, Inter Milan and Napoli boss managed the club for just 25 games in all competitions this season, having lost just three games to Sevilla, FC Barcelona and Villarreal as well as drawing Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League, in which they finished first in Group A. The Spanish giants will now face a Round of 16 tie against Serie A side AS Roma. Benitez was also criticised for Madrid's exit in the Copa del Rey against Cadiz, due to fielding an ineligble player, Denis Cheryshev.
Los Blancos currently sit third in La Liga, four points behind city rivals Atletico Madrid, who sit top, and two behind Barcelona, who have a game in hand following their exploits at the FIFA Club World Cup, in which they won.
Future
Perez, who brought in Benitez following the sacking of Carlo Ancelotti on June 3, 2015, signed him to a three-year contract and gave the Spainard full confidence, especially after the 4-0 rout to rivals Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu two months ago.
Real Madrid have confirmed that Zinedine Zidane will take charge of the head job of the Blancos. The Frenchman has stated that "He will do my best to win something at the end of the season. I will use every player to win something.'' Meanwhile Perez has stated that Zidane is ''someone who knows many of the players as he's won La Decima with many of them as second coach in 2014 and is one of the most legendary players of the sport."
During the 2013–2014 season under Ancelotti, he was the assistant manager. In 25 games, Benitez' time at the club is the shortest since Juande Ramos' time during December of 2008 until the end of 2009 season.