Florentino Perez explains decision to sack Rafa Benitez

At a team press conference, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez explained his decision to sack Rafa Benitez and replace him with Zinedine Zidane.

After drawing 2-2 against Valencia on Sunday, Rafa Benitez was mercifully put out of his misery as the head coach of Real Madrid. The Spanish tactician was let go after just half a season with Los Blancos, and is now on the hunt for a new gig.

At the press conference announcing the decision to sack Benitez and replace him with French legend Zinedine Zidane, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez explained his reasoning.

"“We stand before a great professional and a magnificent person. We are grateful for his dedication in these months,” the president said.“[Zidane] is without a doubt one of the biggest figures in football history. He knows better than anyone what it means to be at the head of the Real Madrid squad.“He knows how hard this bench is, he knows these players and with him as our assistant the 10th European Cup (Champions League) was achieved. The word impossible does not exist for you.”"

Zidane will have his work cut out for him though, as Real Madrid currently sit third in the La Liga table behind Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. While the club remain alive in the UEFA Champions League playing Roma in the Round of 16, the team have already been eliminated from the Copa del Rey after fielding an ineligible player.

Although Zidane has nearly done everything on the pitch as a player, he has little to no experience as a manager. He served as an assistant manager with Real Madrid, but has never been a professional head coach.

The Spanish giants will play their first match under their new head coach on Saturday, when they host Deportivo La Coruna at 2:30 p.m. ET.