The Clock That Never Stopped: Benítez’s Madrid Moment That Wasn’t
13 October 2025
A Short Madrid Chapter
The Spaniard Rafa Benítez remains perplexed by how his brief stint at Real Madrid ended, lasting seven months, almost a decade after he left the royal club.
He coached 25 matches for the club, delivering 17 wins, 5 draws and 3 defeats, a period many still debate among fans and pundits.
The veteran coach, who took the helm in 2015 after Carlo Ancelotti, spoke at an Italian sports symposium about his disappointment at being dismissed, insisting he was on the right track.
A Madrid Diary Worth Reading Twice
Benítez noted that the team played well and found the net despite challenges like Karim Benzema’s injury, and he highlighted that timing mattered: in January they were only five points behind Barcelona, with room to alter the course, especially with Benzema returning to the fold.
He argues the decision to let him go wasn’t about a failed project but rather about not having enough time to finish it properly.
The Departure, Then and Now
Even though Real Madrid stood second in La Liga at the time, a crushing defeat to Valencia and a procession of uneven results early in the season sped up his exit in January 2016, paving the way for Zinedine Zidane’s rise to glory.
Benítez, known for his orderly, defense-minded approach, says his Madrid spell was not a disaster but the beginning of an unfinished project that could have blossomed with more time.
Echoes, Anecdotes and a Laugh
He recalls a funny moment with Fernando Torres, whom he coached at Liverpool and later met again during a training session: “I joked that he was still following our methods!” Torres moved to another group, and both laughed, a reminder that ideas can outlive roles.
This light anecdote, shared with a smile, underscores how his coaching philosophy left a lasting imprint on players who later became coaches themselves.
After Madrid and a Roomful of Clocks
Since Madrid, Benítez has steered Newcastle United, Dalian Pro in China, and Everton, before returning to La Liga with Celta Vigo. His latest Madrid-era exit came in March 2024 after a 4-0 loss to his former club, a twist that highlighted the enduring ironies of football careers.
The 65-year-old remains open to coaching opportunities if a project feels right, confident in his ability to influence European football after more than 25 years on the scene.
Timings, Talent and Truths
As he reflects, progress in football is not just about being on the right path but ensuring that path aligns with a club’s timing and fans’ expectations—because at Real Madrid, time seems to race ahead of everything else.
Punchline time: Time flies at Real Madrid—maybe the calendar has more sprint training than the midfield does. And Punchline two: If patience were a player, Madrid would still be buying him a season ticket, just to stay on the bench long enough to learn the moves.
