Rafael Benitez Sacked by Inter Milan: Five Candidates in the Running

Rafael Benitez has been sacked by Inter Milan just six months after he replaced Jose Mourinho at the Serie A club. Benitez took the job just a week after parting ways with Liverpool, the club he had managed for six years.

Benitez's relationship with Inter Milan was effectively ended after he stated that there were "three possibilities for the club."

The three possibilities were, "One, 100 percent support for the coach and buy four or five players to build a stronger team with competition among the players to be able to carry on winning matches and trophies.

"Two, carry on like this without a project, without planning, and go ahead with one person to blame, for the whole season.

"The third is to speak to my agent to reach an agreement if there is not this support. Simple."

This tirade, in the aftermath of the club's Club World Cup triumph, angered Massimo Moratti, who said that the comments were not "suitable for the situation" and that it wasn't "the moment to ask for reinforcements."

Benitez inherited a club that won the treble last season under Jose Mourinho, but he was unable to replicate that success, with Inter currently sitting in seventh place 13 points off the lead, although they do have two games in hand. The lack of on-field success may have been as much to blame for his dismissal as his recent remakes, although they couldn't have helped the Spaniard's position.

Serie A is on a Christmas break until January 6, a break that gives the Italian giants a chance to appoint a new manager in time for their next match, against Napoli.

Fabio Capello, Luciano Spalletti, Walter Zenga, Leonardo and Diego Simeone are the current frontrunners to replace Benitez.

Spalletti is currently in charge of Zenit St Petersburg, and has been confirmed as their coach for next season after triumphing in the league last month, but Inter might be willing to pay big money to secure his services.

Diego Simeone, best known for his clash with David Beckham in the 1998 World Cup, is currently available but lacks managerial experience in Europe. He does, however, have a good knowledge of Italy, having spent much of his career there.

Fabio Capello has long been linked with a return to Inter Milan, but is contracted to the England national team until 2012. 

Walter Zenga is an Inter Milan legend, having played 328 times in goal for the club. He would, in all likelihood, be a short-term appointment designed to get the club to the end of the season when a more detailed search could be made.

Leonardo is regarded as the favourite for the job by the Italian media. He has long been associated with AC Milan, but fell out with Silvio Berlusconi last season after leading AC Milan to third place in Serie A.

Some would like to see Benitez back at Liverpool, but that seems unlikely. Although he has damaged his reputation with his lack of success in the last 18 months, he is still a top class manager and could be a contender for any big jobs that become available in the near future.