Rafael Benitez is the 'best coach I've ever had', says Real Madrid president Florentino Perez - and that includes Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho

The end of Mourinho's Real Madrid reign turned sour

Jose Mourinho and Rafael Benitez have a long rivalry (Getty Images)

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has called former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez the "best coach I've ever had".

Better, even, than Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, the only manager to win the Spanish title with Los Blancos since 2008 when he managed it in his second season in 2011-12.

The Portuguese boss, who also won the Copa Del Rey in a three spell at the Bernabeu, ended on a sour note in the Spanish capital, falling out with numerous senior players including Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos, as well as losing the support of the media and the Real Madrid fans.

Benitez has started this season, his first in charge, with a win and a draw, beating Real Betis 5-0 before the international break.

If Mourinho was to become available again, he will not be returning to Real while Perez is in charge.

"I have no intention of re-signing him [Mourinho], although he did give us an important step up in terms of quality," Perez told Cadena COPE.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez (Getty Images)

"Before him, we struggled to make it past the last 16 in Europe and that wasn't good enough."

Perez added: "[Benitez is] the best coach I've ever had."