It was always going to go this way. In reality it was a matter of when and not if the Real Madrid fans, and the board, grew tired of Rafa Benitez's rational approach to football and brought the guillotine down. It seems seven months is the magic number.
A number of Spanish sources are reporting that Benitez has been sacked amid growing disquiet about the football being played at the Bernabeu. That was always going to be the case of course although it would seem that his relationship with some of the top players at the club has also contributed to his early departure from his boyhood club.
The final straw it would seem was the 2-2 draw against Valencia where he decided to start with both Isco and James Rodriguez on the bench. Instead he went for a more solid midfield three of Kroos, Modric and Kovacic, something which at least pointed to the fact that he was going down fighting for his principles.
While an official announcement is not expected until after a meeting with Florentino Perez later today, it is thought that the deed has effectively been done with a replacement waiting in the wings.
If Benitez's sacking is no surprise then it will come as even less of a surprise that Zinedine Zidane is being lined up to take over. The French legend has been honing his skills as manager of Real Madrid Castilla, the club's 'B' side and he has long been earmarked to take the top job.
With Castilla sitting second in the Segunda Division B Group 2 table at the moment, it would seem that Zidane has done enough to prove that he's ready to take one of the toughest jobs in football. We wish him all the best.
