Zinedine Zidane's appointment as manager at Real Madrid on Monday surprised the football world, a...

https://rich-content.thescore.com/authors/daniel-rouse/content_cards

Daniel Rouse

Senior News Editor

Zinedine Zidane's appointment as manager at <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///liga/teams/44" href="http://www.thescore.com/liga/teams/44">Real Madrid</a> on Monday surprised the football world, and it's left large chunks of the Los Blancos support delirious.The three-time World Player of the Year was greeted with chants of his name and cheers as he led his new squad out for training on Tuesday at the Spanish capital's Alfredo Di Stefano stadium.<figure><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/152353/cropped_REU_2356895.jpg?ts=1452000502"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><figure><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/152355/cropped_REU_2356898.jpg?ts=1452000947"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><figure><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/152356/cropped_REU_2356899.jpg?ts=1452000978"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><figure><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/152357/cropped_REU_2356903.jpg?ts=1452001005"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><figure><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/152358/cropped_REU_2356904.jpg?ts=1452001031"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><figure><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/152359/cropped_REU_2356905.jpg?ts=1452001059"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><figure><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/152364/cropped_REU_2356922.jpg?ts=1452001183"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><figure><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/152360/cropped_REU_2356906.jpg?ts=1452001090"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><figure><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/152361/cropped_REU_2356907.jpg?ts=1452001105"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><figure><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/152363/cropped_REU_2356920.jpg?ts=1452001157"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

La Liga Soccer

Real Madrid

Death, taxes and Real Madrid firing managers.   The Spanish juggernaut, sputtering (by its lofty ...

https://rich-content.thescore.com/authors/gianluca-nesci/content_cards

Gianluca Nesci

Supervising Editor

Death, taxes and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///liga/teams/44" href="http://www.thescore.com/liga/teams/44">Real Madrid</a> firing managers. The Spanish juggernaut, sputtering (by its lofty standards) in La Liga this season, confirmed what has seemed inevitable since the day Rafa Benitez was hired only seven months ago, announcing Monday that the under-fire boss has been sacked, replaced on the touchline by club icon Zinedine Zidane.Related: <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/927853" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/927853">Rafa Benitez sacked as manager of Real Madrid, replaced by Zinedine Zidane</a><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The Madrid native, 55, was given his marching orders despite the club finding itself a mere four points off the top of the La Liga table, where city rival <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///liga/teams/51" href="http://www.thescore.com/liga/teams/51">Atletico Madrid</a> sits at the summit. Though Los Blancos are well within striking distance for the Spanish title, there was consistent outrage from supporters over the team's uninspiring, defensive style of play under Benitez, along with a series of unfortunate, high-profile gaffes that blighted his tenure; the Copa del Rey debacle, a reported rift with marquee players, and a 4-0 battering at the hands of <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///liga/teams/37" href="http://www.thescore.com/liga/teams/37">Barcelona</a> in this season's edition of El Clasico.<figure><iframe src="https://renderer.qmerce.com/interaction/568aa6473a731d3e71ba9738" width="100%" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></figure>And while the timing seems odd - the club is one day removed from earning a 2-2 draw away to <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///liga/teams/45" href="http://www.thescore.com/liga/teams/45">Valencia</a>, despite playing with ten men - trigger-happy president Florentino Perez decided the time was right for the seemingly inevitable announcement.Here's everything you need to know about Real Madrid's decision to cut ties with Benitez, and replace him with Zidane.REACTION<ul>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/927799" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/927799">VIDEO: Zidane's replacement of Benitez gets the Photoshop treatment</a></li>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/927849" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/927849">Twitter reacts to Rafa Benitez's sacking by Real Madrid</a></li>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/928066" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/928066">Beckham praises hiring of Zidane: 'The best person for the job'</a></li>
</ul>COACHING CAROUSEL AT THE BERNABEU<ul>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/927959" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/927959">Short stories: 5 fleeting tenures at the helm of Real Madrid</a></li>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/928076" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/928076">Real Madrid is a Galactico-sized train wreck under Florentino Perez</a></li>
</ul>LOOKING BACK AT BENITEZ'S ILL-FATED TENURE<ul>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/927841" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/927841">Writing on the wall: 5 factors that led to Benitez's firing at Real Madrid</a></li>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/798429" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/798429">Real Madrid boss Benitez insists there is no rift with Cristiano Ronaldo</a></li>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/890537" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/890537">Perez calls press conference to deny rumours of Benitez's dismissal</a></li>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/889833" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/889833">Report: Rafa Benitez's dismissal 'not a matter of if, but when'</a></li>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/889948" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/889948">Zinedine Zidane denies links with Real Madrid 1st-team manager role</a></li>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/888640" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/888640">Real Madrid boss Benitez reflects on dismal, one-sided Clasico defeat</a></li>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/890795" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/890795">Benitez given dreaded vote of confidence: 'He has all our support'</a></li>
</ul>ZIDANE TAKES OVER<ul>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/927990" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/927990">Zidane: Becoming Madrid manager more exciting than the day I signed</a></li>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/928085" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/928085">Surviving Madrid: Zidane risks predictable ending at unforgiving club</a></li>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/928162" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/928162">Calderon: Perez tried to sign Mourinho, didn't want Zidane as manager</a></li>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/928553" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/928553">PHOTOS: Zinedine Zidane oversees 1st Real Madrid training session</a></li>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/928532" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/928532">Spanish media doubts Zinedine Zidane future at Real Madrid</a></li>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/928614" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/928614">Zidane targets trophies, attacking football as hard work starts</a></li>
</ul><figure><iframe src="https://renderer.qmerce.com/interaction/568aa8f592bdd93309ddb0d3" width="100%" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></figure>

PHOTOS: Zinedine Zidane oversees 1st Real Madrid training session

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