Real Madrid sack Rafa Benitez: Five things that went wrong

Why was the Spaniard replaced by Zinedine Zidane?

Real Madrid took the decision yesterday to replace manager Rafa Benitez with Zinedine Zidane.

Benitez had only replaced Carlo Ancelotti in June, signing a three-year contact with his home-town club, but lasted just 25 competitive games in charge of the Spanish giants.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez said during a press conference to announce the change that Benitez was "an absolute professional and a wonderful person". However, he didn't explain why the decision had been made.

So what was it that went wrong during Benitez's short tenure that made the club feel the need to act? We take a look in the video above.

Meanwhile, his replacement Zidane said last night: "It's the best club in the world with the best fan-base in the world. I want to do my very best to ensure that this club at the end of the season will have a trophy.

"I will be working hard with all the players and I think it will go well. I am looking forward to working with everybody tomorrow. Tomorrow is when the work starts.

"Thank you to everyone. It is an important day for me, it's an emotional day, even more emotional than the day I signed as a player for the club.

"I will put all the heart I have into this job for the club. Thank you very much."