Zidane replaces Benitez at Real Madrid

Rafael Benitez has been sacked as manager of Real Madrid after just seven months in charge, with club legend Zinedine Zidane replacing him. Spaniard Benitez, 55, was relieved of his duties following a meeting of the club's board on Monday. B team coach Zidane, 43, has been made first-team boss, but the length of his contract has not been made public.

The World Cup winner said: "I am going to put my heart and soul into this job so that everything works out well." Benitez's final game was Sunday's 2-2 draw with Valencia, which left them third in La Liga, four points behind leaders Atletico Madrid. Zidane, whose first game in charge will be Saturday's game with Deportivo La Coruna at the Bernabeu, is the 11th coach to be appointed in Florentino Perez's 12 years as club president.