Spanish La Liga giants Real Madrid have named club legend Zinedine Zidane as the new coach after relieving embattled coach Rafa Benitez of his job, club president Fiorentino Perez told a press conference held on Monday evening in the Spanish capital.

Perez said: “I am here to say that the board has just decided, in a difficult decision, especially for me, to end contract of Rafa as first-team coach.

“I would like to make it clear that he is a great professional.

“Zinedine Zidane knows better than anyone what it is like to stand at the front and lead Real

Madrid. Throughout his career he has always been able to face up to huge challenges.”

Benitez’s sack followed a string of poor results recorded by Real in the Spanish La Liga, including a 0-4 home loss to rivals Barcelona and recently a disappointing 2-2 draw with Valencia in a game they twice led.

Perez poured more encomiums on Zidane at the presser saying: “He is one of the greatest players of all time. Zinedine, this is your club, your stadium and you have all our support. Zidane you are, from this moment, the trainer of Real Madrid.”

Zidane was the world’s most expensive player when he arrived at Real’s Bernabéu from Juventus in 2001, spending five years at the club and winning La Liga and the Champions League. Since 2014 he has been coaching Real Madrid’s B team.

He said of his new assignment: “Firstly I would like to thank the club and the president for giving me the chance to coach this team. I’m more emotional now than when I signed as a player. We have the best club in the world and the best fans in the world.”

•Photo shows Real Madrid’s new coach Zinedine Zidane.