Rafael Benitez Named Real Madrid Manager: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

Real Madrid have finally named Rafael Benitez as the club’s new manager on a three-year deal.

Los Blancos tweeted confirmation of Benitez's unveiling:

Madrid provided an official statement ahead of Benitez's official unveiling on Wednesday. The newly installed manager noted his happiness in a quick presser, per Dermot Corrigan of ESPN FC:

Nicolas Rigg of AS provided an image of Benitez with Madrid President Florentino Perez:

Benitez confirmed he will be aiming to win silverware with attack-minded play, per Corrigan:

Madrid are currently linked with a swoop for Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling, reported by AS (h/t Bruce Archer of the Express). However, he refused to be drawn on speculation linking the Englishman to the club, tweeted by Corrigan:

He also refused comment on the potential departure of long-serving goalkeeper Iker Casillas, per Corrigan:

Madrid recently parted company with Carlo Ancelotti after a two-season spell in charge, during which he delivered a Copa del Rey win and the club’s 10th European Cup success.

Denis Doyle/Getty Images

But after toiling in both of the aforementioned competitions this season and falling short in La Liga, the club decided some fresh impetus was required. Benitez, who was Napoli manager for two seasons prior to this appointment, is the man they’ve decided to take them forward.

Here’s a look at what the former Liverpool and Valencia boss has won in his managerial career to date:

Team	Trophy
Valencia	2 x La Liga (2001/02, 2003/04), UEFA Cup (2003/04)
Liverpool	Champions League (2004/05), UEFA Super Cup (2005), FA Cup (2005/06), FA Community Shield (2006)
Internazionale	Supercoppa Italiana (2010), FIFA Club World Cup (2010)
Chelsea	Europa League (2012/13)
Napoli	Coppa Italia (2013/14), Supercoppa Italiana (2014)

For some, this is a peculiar appointment. Stylistically, Benitez is a manager who doesn’t seem like the correct fit for Real. The Spaniard has made his name through shrewd tactical acumen and a pragmatic approach to matches, a modus operandi which certainly doesn’t tie in with Madrid’s own mantra of winning with a swagger.

Denis Doyle/Getty Images

As noted by Bleacher Report’s Karl Matchett, it means some attacking flair is likely to be sacrificed:

A number of Madrid players are currently linked with departing, but Bleacher Report's Spanish football expert Guillem Balague expects key names to stay. He suggested Rafa will chase Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea:

Ian Ladyman of the Daily Mail reports Madrid's continued interest in the Red Devils stopper.

There have been some turbulent spells during Benitez’s managerial career. He endured volatile relationships with authority figures at Valencia, Liverpool and Inter Milan. His record in the transfer market has also been sketchy at best, and as such, it’s understandable that many are pondering if this is really a step up for Real.

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Benitez does have some admirable qualities, too, though. As noted here by Sid Lowe of the Guardian, the Spaniard knows what it takes to win La Liga:

In addition, Benitez has also fashioned a reputation as an expert when it comes to European competition. He won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005, guided the Reds to another final two years later and lifted the Europa League trophy with Chelsea in 2013, despite being unpopular among the club's supporters.

ALASTAIR GRANT/Associated Press

There are certain caveats to all of those trophies Benitez has won, but the fact remains that for a club like Real, which lives and breathes by the silverware accrued, they are appointing a manager that has sampled nine trophy wins in the past decade.

However, Daniel Storey of Football365 remains wholly unconvinced by the merits of the Spaniard:

It’s certainly going to make for an intriguing dynamic. Benitez is a man that’s unafraid when it comes to speaking his mind, and at a club like Real, where the minutiae of every move made or word uttered is analysed in forensic detail, that could ruffle a few feathers.

Given the quality of players he will have at his disposal, expect him to deliver silverware. But despite Benitez being a thoroughbred winner, as we’ve seen in the case of so many of his predecessors, that’s not always enough to meet the incomparably high standards of this football club.