Real Madrid

Zinedine Zidane "excited" by Real Madrid challenge

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 04 January 2016

New Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane is "excited" at the prospect of his first major managerial role having replaced Rafael Benitez at the Bernabeu.

Zinedine Zidane has said that he is "excited" by the challenge ahead after he was named as the new manager of Real Madrid.

Rafael Benitez was sacked as Madrid boss and replaced by Zidane this evening having failed to win seven of his opening 18 league matches in charge of the club, the last of which saw them held by Valencia on Sunday.

It is Zidane's first major managerial role having only previously spent time in charge of the club's Castilla team, and he is eager to get going ahead of his first match in charge - a home tie against Deportivo La Coruna in La Liga on Saturday.

"I want to thank the club and thank the president for giving me the opportunity to train this club," the Frenchman told reporters at his unveiling.

"It's the best club in the world with the best fan-base in the world. I want to do my very best to ensure that this club at the end of the season will have a trophy. I will be working hard with all the players and I think it will go well. I am looking forward to working with everybody tomorrow. Tomorrow is when the work starts.

"Thank you to everyone. It is an important day for me, it's an emotional day, even more emotional than the day I signed as a player for the club. I will put all the heart I have into this job for the club. Thank you very much."

Zidane won the World Cup, European Championship and Champions League during a glittering playing career with club and country that also saw him named FIFA World Player of the Year on three occasions.

He joined Madrid for a world-record fee of £45.8m in 2001, going on to make 225 appearances as a member of the Galacticos.