Rafael Benitez has been sacked as manager of Real Madrid – seven months after he took charge.
The former Liverpool and Chelsea boss has endured a tough season at the Bernabeu since taking over in June, and while he only finds his side just four points off Barcelona at the top of La Liga he has had fallouts with key players and been criticised for a defensive style of football.
Benitez was also denied the chance for another piece of silverware, the Copa del Rey, after an administrative gaffe saw them expelled for fielding an ineligible player against Cadiz.
It leaves the Champions League as their most likely chance of glory this season, but club president Florentino Perez has opted for a change ahead of their round-of-16 tie with Roma next month.
