The former Napoli boss replaces Carlo
Ancelotti at the Bernabeu after
announcing his exit from the Italian
side last week Real Madrid have confirmed that Rafael Benitez is their new coach, replacing
the sacked Carlo Ancelotti at the
Santiago Bernabeu. The 55-year-old Spaniard was the
overwhelming favourite to be handed
the role, and he announced last week
that he was to end his two-year stint
with Napoli after Sunday's final Serie A
game against Lazio. Madrid vice-president Eduardo
Fernandez de Blas then admitted
hours before Napoli's 4-2 loss that
Benitez would be their next coach,
telling a group of club members: "Until
three days ago Ancelotti was the best coach in the world, as Jose Mourinho
was two years ago and from this week
onwards it will be Rafa Benitez." And on Wednesday, Benitez finally
signed a contract with the Blancos
which ties him to the Spanish capital
until the summer of 2018. "Real Madrid will present Rafa Benitez
as the new coach for the next three
seasons on Wednesday, June 3," a
club statement read. "The event will take place at 13:00CET
in the Royal Box of the Bernabeu, then
Rafa Benitez will appear before the
media in the press room." Benitez takes over at the Bernabeu
following the exit of Ancelotti, who
was relieved of his duties after failing
to win either the Champions League or
La Liga in 2014-15. The ex-Liverpool manager returns to
Spain after an absence of 11 years -
having previously won two La Liga
titles with Valencia in the first half of
the last decade.
source www.goal.com/en/news/12/spain/2015/06/03/12271252/real-madrid-confirm-rafa-benitez-as-coach