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RAFA BENITEZ is favourite to become Real Madrid boss next season.
The Spanish giants will sack Manuel Pellegrini in the summer, after their Champions League defeat by Lyon.
Real president Florentino Perez has under-fire Liverpool chief Benitez as the front-runner on a shortlist that also includes Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti.
A top Real source said: "Rafa is the preferred choice. He is a Madrid man and his agent, Manuel Garcia Quillon, has an excellent relationship with the club.
"Above all, though, his record in Europe is exceptional. The club want to return where they believe they belong - to be the No 1 team in Europe again. They believe Rafa is the man to make that happen."
Polls show Mourinho would be a hugely unpopular appointment among four out of five fans.
Perez rates Ancelotti very highly but knows it would be impossible to prise him away from Chelsea. Benitez was a coach at Real's academy at the start of his career and has not hidden the fact he would love to coach them at some point.
One problem could be he does not see eye to eye with Real technical director Jorge Valdano. But that is not deemed to be an obstacle.
Real have now failed for six years to go past the Champions League's last 16.
Liverpool crashed out at the group stage this season. But previously Benitez has won the trophy, reached a second final, a third semi-final and twice made the last eight.
The Spanish giants will sack Manuel Pellegrini in the summer, after their Champions League defeat by Lyon.
Real president Florentino Perez has under-fire Liverpool chief Benitez as the front-runner on a shortlist that also includes Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti.
A top Real source said: "Rafa is the preferred choice. He is a Madrid man and his agent, Manuel Garcia Quillon, has an excellent relationship with the club.
"Above all, though, his record in Europe is exceptional. The club want to return where they believe they belong - to be the No 1 team in Europe again. They believe Rafa is the man to make that happen."
Polls show Mourinho would be a hugely unpopular appointment among four out of five fans.
Perez rates Ancelotti very highly but knows it would be impossible to prise him away from Chelsea. Benitez was a coach at Real's academy at the start of his career and has not hidden the fact he would love to coach them at some point.
One problem could be he does not see eye to eye with Real technical director Jorge Valdano. But that is not deemed to be an obstacle.
Real have now failed for six years to go past the Champions League's last 16.
Liverpool crashed out at the group stage this season. But previously Benitez has won the trophy, reached a second final, a third semi-final and twice made the last eight.