Real Madrid on Monday fired Rafael Benitez as head coach, immediately elevating second-team coach Zinedine Zidane to be his successor for the remainder of the season. Despite the team’s recent run of success in the Champions League and prolific goal-scoring in La Liga, a 0-4 home loss in November to archrivals Barcelona may have sealed Rafa’s fate. And though it’s trading a Spaniard for a Frenchman, Zidane is viewed as a people’s choice – he was a popular player for Real in the early Aughts, bringing home both Spanish and European titles.
Most of the European leagues resumed play this week following the midwinter break, with tight, multi-team races in England, Spain, and Italy, and the January transfer window has been open for three days, with no huge signings so far.
Otherwise, things seem pretty quiet on the soccer news front. Last year at this time, this column was full of Austin Aztex preseason news: signings, parties, schedule updates… Somewhere, those things are happening: Rosters are being assembled, fields are being readied, schedules are being planned – but alas, not here in Mudville.
This article appears in January 8 • 2016.