Like Pep Guardiola, Zinedine Zidane has been cutting his managerial teeth in the B-team of the club he represented with distinction.
But can Zidane match the extraoardinary achievements of his now former Barcelona counterpart now that he is has been given the reins of Real Madrid? And what of Rafa Benitez who has been unceremoniously ushered out the Bernabeu revolving door after a short but underwhelming time in charge?
BBC Spanish football writer Andy West joined Off The Ball tonight as the football world came to terms with today's events and although club president Florentino Perez may continue his habit of drastic change at the slightest downturn in fortunes, there is a possibility that he could stand behind Zidane longer than he has for any other Real manager.
"The initial impression is that Zidane will be more protected and will be given more time and even more of a chance because he's been so obviously hand-picked and prepared for this role for a long time by Perez. But talking about the solution and problem, I think Perez - as a lot of Real Madrid fans are - needs to start looking at himself rather than whoever happens to be the next coach," said West.
As for Benitez, West believes "he wasn't allowed to do any kind of job" and did not have the freedom to build the team he would most like to put on the field.
"We can't even say he did a bad or good job because he didn't do his job the way he wanted to. He was managing the team to other people's priorities," he said, highlighting the 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Barcelona as a patent example and how Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale are considered as undroppable regardless of form, even though the former has been in poor form in bigger games.
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