Real Madrid have confirmed in an official statement . on the club’s website that Rafael Benitez is the new manager.
The statement said, “Real Madrid C. F. will present Rafa Ben tez as the new first team coach for the next three seasons today, Wednesday 3 June. The ceremony will take place at 1pm CEST in the presidential box of the Santiago Bernab u. Following his unveiling, Rafa Ben tez will hold a press conference in the press room.”
The 55-year-old ex-Liverpool boss has signed a three year deal after ending a two-year stint with Napoli following a 4-2 home defeat by Lazio on Sunday that meant his side finished sixth in the Serie A despite having a chance to finish in the top three and qualify for the Champion’s League on the final game.
The Santiago Bernabeu club’s pursuit of the former Napoli manager, who left his post after the final game of the Serie A season on Sunday, has been an open secret for some weeks.
Benitez now returns to Spain following eleven years away in charge of Liverpool, Inter, Chelsea, and Napoli. He won the La Liga with Valencia in 2001-02 and 2003-04 defeating the Galacticos of Real Madrid. Perez is a long time admirer of the former Real Madrid player and B team coach who assisted Vicente del Bosque during his stint from 1993 to 1995. The last home based manager that Real Madrid had was del Bosque and if Benitez can replicate the success of his fellow Spaniard than the decision of Perez to appoint him against public opinion will be vindicated.
Benitez will inherit the bulk of a squad that failed to win a single major trophy this season but one that is full with some of the finest footballing talent in the world. There isn’t a huge amount to be done in the transfer market this summer and the only major rumour doing the rounds besides Real Madrid confident of signing David De Gea is that Perez has set his sights on Sergio Aguero again.