Rafael Benítez has left his position as Real Madrid coach seven months after his appointment, with Zinédine Zidane taking charge.The 55-year-old's departure was announced today along with the promotion of Zidane to his first head coaching role. The Frenchman, 43, previously worked as assistant to Benítez's predecessor Carlo Ancelotti and, since 2014, had occupied the helm of reserve team Real Madrid Castilla."This is an important day for me," said Zidane as he was unveiled alongside his family on Monday evening. "I'm more excited now than I was when I signed as a player. I am going to put my heart and soul into this job so that everything works out well."We have th...
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Real Madrid crowned world club champions
Updated: Saturday, 20 Dec 2014 22:37 | Comments
Ludogorets v Real Madrid background
PFC Ludogorets Razgrad play their first home game in the UEFA Champions League on matchday two when the holders Real Madrid CF visit Sofia.Match backgroundLudogorets• Georgi Dermendzhiev's Bulgarian title holders made a promising start in the competition at Liverpool FC, losing only to an injury-time penalty in a 2-1 defeat.• In qualifying for the group stage, Ludogorets played three home games, beating F91 Dudelange (4-0), holding FK Partizan (0-0), and then defeating FC Steaua Bucureşti 1-0 prior to a 6-5 penalty shoot-out success.• They went four games unbeaten at home in last season's UEFA Europa League before succumbing 3-0 to Valencia CF in the first leg of an eventual 4-0 round of 16 defeat. It was their first meeting with
Ronaldo in Madrid squad ahead of BVB clash
Real Madrid news By Dermot Corrigan, Spain Correspondent Cristiano Ronaldo has returned to training with Real Madrid and has been included in the 20-man squad for Tuesday’s Champions League quarterfinal second leg at Borussia Dortmund. • Train: Ramos inspires Real Ronaldo was rested for Madrid’s 4-0 La Liga win at Real Sociedad on Saturday night, with coach Carlo Ancelotti saying the knee problem that has hampered the Portugal captain during recent matches required some rest. Given Madrid’s 3-0 advantage from the first leg, Ronaldo could be rested again in Dortmund to give the knee further time to recover fully, but the current Champions League top scorer took a full part in Los Blancos’ training session on Sunday and is in the squad. A statement on the
Cup successes for Madrid, Roma and City
Copa del ReyReal Madrid CF took a significant step towards the last four of the Copa del Rey after a first-half Karim Benzema strike earned them a 1-0 quarter-final first leg victory at RCD Espanyol.On 25 minutes, Benzema connected with an Álvaro Arbeloa centre that grazed Gareth Bale. Cristiano Ronaldo had earlier struck a post, and he, Benzema and Arbeloa all spurned good chances to double Madrid's lead as the game progressed. Sergio García went close for Espanyol, and captain Iker Casillas denied Jhon Córdoba later on. The result maintains Madrid's 100% record in 2014, and they have also yet to concede a goal in six games this year.The tie concludes in Madrid next Tuesday, with the remaining quarter-final openers