Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez today announced the end of the reign of Rafael Benítez and named Zinedine Zidane as the new manager of the club.
Speaking at a specially organised press conference after Benítez's Madrid side drew 2-2 against Valencia on Sunday night, Pérez revealed that the board of directors had taken the decision to terminate the contract of Rafael Benitez with immediate effect.
He highlighted that Benítez was a great professional and a magnificent person, and that the decision had been a very difficult one, in particular for him.
The decision was taken to turn to Zinedine Zidane, one of their greatest ever players, to lead the club from here on out, having been in charge of their Real Madrid Castilla side since 2014.
Zidane took to the podium to thank the club and the president for giving him the chance to manage such a great club, and said that "the important thing is, tomorrow, to be with the team and to start working", adding that "I'm going to give everything in my heart, all I have for this club".
There will be another, longer press conference tomorrow afternoon at the Santiago Bernabéu with the new manager, flanked by the club's head of public relations, Emilio Butragueño.
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