No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsBusinessKeylor Navas' coach at Real Madrid sacked, Spanish media report

Keylor Navas’ coach at Real Madrid sacked, Spanish media report

MADRID – Beleaguered Real Madrid coach Rafael Benítez was fired by the Spanish giants Monday evening after just seven months in charge, Spanish media outlets reported.

Sports daily Marca reported that Benítez would be replaced by French legend and club reserve team coach Zinedine Zidane.

Madrid twice threw away the lead in drawing 2-2 away to Valencia on Sunday to leave Benítez’s men four points adrift of local rivals Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga.

They also trail eternal rivals Barcelona by two points having played a game more.

The appointment of the former Liverpool and Chelsea manager in June wasn’t a popular one with either fans or the club’s star players, who had voiced their desire for his sacked predecessor Carlo Ancelotti to stay.

A run of three league defeats in five games in November and December, including a 4-0 thrashing at home to Barcelona, wiped away the early credit Benítez had gained with an unbeaten 14-game run to start his reign.

Further embarrassment was to follow when Madrid were thrown out of the Copa del Rey for fielding an ineligible player last month.

Benítez’s relationship with the dressing room has also failed to improve with key players such as Karim Benzema and James Rodríguez often showing their disgust at being substituted.

And captain Sergio Ramos failed to offer a strong sign of support for Benítez when given the chance after the Valencia game.

“His future doesn’t depend on us,” said the Spanish international. “Whoever the coach is he will always have the confidence of the players. Whether it is Rafa or anyone else.”

Trending Now

Costa Rica’s Top Court Bans President Chaves from 2026 Election Campaign

Costa Rica’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal on Thursday barred President Rodrigo Chaves from participating in the 2026 election campaign, ruling that he "illegitimately used" his...

Costa Rica Moves Forward with Crypto Regulation to Combat Financial Crime

Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly has advanced a landmark bill targeting the regulation of virtual asset service providers (VASPs), aiming to bolster the nation’s defenses...

Costa Rica’s Pride March 2025 Defies Restrictions and Celebrates Diversity

A large crowd gathered in Paseo Colón, San José, to participate in the LGBTIQ+ Pride March 2025. It began at noon, as people marched...

Costa Rica’s Chaves Slams Supreme Court as “National Disgrace” in Corruption Case

On Wednesday, President Rodrigo Chaves didn’t hold back. In his weekly press conference, he slammed the Supreme Court, calling it a “national disgrace” that’s...

Costa Rica Court Moves to Lift President Chaves’ Immunity

Costa Rica’s Supreme Court of Justice on Tuesday asked Congress — for the first time in the history of this country with a well-established...

Guatemala Offers Asylum to Nicaraguan Migrants Deported by U.S.

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo announced on Friday that his country will grant asylum to Nicaraguan migrants deported by the United States who do not...
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica