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Zinedine Zidane "excited" by Real Madrid challenge

New Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane is "excited" at the prospect of his first major managerial role having replaced Rafael Benitez at the Bernabeu.

Zinedine Zidane has said that he is "excited" by the challenge ahead after he was named as the new manager of Real Madrid.

Rafael Benitez was sacked as Madrid boss and replaced by Zidane this evening having failed to win seven of his opening 18 league matches in charge of the club, the last of which saw them held by Valencia on Sunday.

It is Zidane's first major managerial role having only previously spent time in charge of the club's Castilla team, and he is eager to get going ahead of his first match in charge - a home tie against Deportivo La Coruna in La Liga on Saturday.

"I want to thank the club and thank the president for giving me the opportunity to train this club," the Frenchman told reporters at his unveiling.

"It's the best club in the world with the best fan-base in the world. I want to do my very best to ensure that this club at the end of the season will have a trophy. I will be working hard with all the players and I think it will go well. I am looking forward to working with everybody tomorrow. Tomorrow is when the work starts.

"Thank you to everyone. It is an important day for me, it's an emotional day, even more emotional than the day I signed as a player for the club. I will put all the heart I have into this job for the club. Thank you very much."

Zidane won the World Cup, European Championship and Champions League during a glittering playing career with club and country that also saw him named FIFA World Player of the Year on three occasions.

He joined Madrid for a world-record fee of £45.8m in 2001, going on to make 225 appearances as a member of the Galacticos.

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Rafa Benitez barks orders during the game between Valencia and Real Madrid on January 3, 2016
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona12110140112933
2Real Madrid1173121111024
3Atletico MadridAtletico126511871123
4Villarreal116322019121
5Osasuna126331716121
6Athletic Bilbao125431812619
7Real BetisBetis125431210219
8Mallorca12534109118
9Rayo Vallecano114431210216
10Celta Vigo125161820-216
11Real Sociedad124351010015
12GironaGirona124351517-215
13Sevilla124351217-515
14AlavesAlaves124171419-513
15Leganes122551216-411
16Getafe12174810-210
17Espanyol123181122-1110
18Las PalmasLas Palmas122371321-89
19Real ValladolidValladolid12228924-158
20Valencia11146817-97


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