Real Madrid Vice-President Eduardo Fernandez de Blas confirmed Rafa Benitez will be their new Coach “as of next week.”
The decision was widely expected and on Thursday Benitez announced he would not be renewing his contract with Napoli.
Carlo Ancelotti was sacked despite winning the Champions League only a year ago.
“I’ll tell you one thing. Just one thing. Carlo Ancelotti is a real phenomenon. We give our thanks to him,” said De Blas at a club event on Saturday.
Real Madrid Vice-President Eduardo Fernandez de Blas confirmed Rafa Benitez will be their new Coach “as of next week.”
The decision was widely expected and on Thursday Benitez announced he would not be renewing his contract with Napoli.
Carlo Ancelotti was sacked despite winning the Champions League only a year ago.
“I’ll tell you one thing. Just one thing. Carlo Ancelotti is a real phenomenon. We give our thanks to him,” said De Blas at a club event on Saturday.
“Until three days ago, he was the best Coach in the world, as was Jose Mourinho two years ago, and so will Rafa Benitez as of next week.
“[Ancelotti] was an outstanding Coach, a gentleman whom I have great affection for, and I think everyone else at Real Madrid does too.
“It seems we can be passionate Madridistas sometimes but then criticise ourselves.
“Often [we make] difficult [decisions], [ones that are] sometimes unpopular. When Ancelotti arrived, he had a seven percent referendum among members, as does Benitez now.
“However, Carlo now has more [to his name] than when he came, but we’re to make decisions, which we think are best for the club. We live and die by them.
“Forgive my tone, but I think when you defend something with passion and ardency, it must be defended with intensity, and I always defend the things I say.
“I’m excited and looking forward to July 30 to see how the best players in the world work under an exceptional Coach.”
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