COMMENT: For the president, this is last chance saloon. Florentino Perez has to know if Zinedine Zidane fails, there's coming back.

After Rafa Benitez's sacking, Zidane's appointment at Real Madrid seems obvious. Natural. But for several weeks, leading up to Monday's decision, Florentino had received knock back after knock back as he scrambled to rescue his sinking reputation with fans and influential club identities.

, Fernando Hierro, who sat in the dugout alongside Carlo Ancelotti last season, couldn't be tempted back with the offer of the sports director's job. Raul, after hanging up the boots at New York Cosmos, was tabled the same offer - and gave the president the same response.

Before turning to Zizou, Florentino made a call to Jose Mourinho. Ramon Calderon, Florentino's predecessor, insists the story is rock solid. Florentino wanted Mou back. But the former Chelsea boss said 'no', still hoping the Manchester United job will eventually fall into his lap.

That Zidane will take charge against Deportivo La Coruna still working to his Castilla contract adds credence to Calderon's claims. If it wasn't all such a rush, why didn't the board have Zizou's deal drawn up and waiting for him to sign on Monday?

Even Iker Casillas, now with Porto, rejected a Real return after a call from Zidane. Well, he thought it was Zizou. Instead, it was a prank call. But the message was the same, at this moment in the club's history - thanks, Florentino, but no thanks.

The place is teetering. But Zidane will give the club a much-needed shot in the arm.

The disconnect between the locker room and Benitez will be gone. The open defiance to Benitez's authority will disappear. The whistles for the coach will be silenced. The crowd will be behind the players. The players behind the coach. And Florentino will be congratulating himself on a job well done.

And why not? This week, it's been all about Zizou. There's been nothing about blackmail plots. Nor police chases. It's been about the football. Systems. Tactics.

But those identities connected to the club. Those who can look beyond the headlines. They'll know the coach has been changed - but nothing else.

This wasn't the Real Madrid Benitez left in 1995. This is Florentino's.

In his announcement speech to welcome Zidane, Florentino turned to his new appointment and stated: "For you, nothing is impossible."

Which is very close to club sponsor Adidas' motto 'impossible is nothing'. Perhaps it was simply an innocent phrase? But it is ironic that just hours later, Benitez closed out his farewell letter with 'Hala Madrid and nothing else'.

The contrast was there for all to see. For Benitez, it was the club, his original club, the dream that brought him to tears at his presentation ceremony, which was to come first above all else. For Florentino's Real. The one of prison cells, car chases and out-of-control egos. The image has never taken such a battering.

And messrs Raul, Casillas et al, will have taken note how Florentino dispensed with Benitez. Barely a mention in Monday's speech. And it wasn't even the president who delivered Benitez the bad news. It was Jose Angel Sanchez, Florentino's loyal lieutenant, who gave Benitez his marching orders - the president was nowhere to be seen.

Zidane is the Florentino's project. And he could be the greatest triumph he'll ever have as president. It was Florentino who coaxed Zidane back to Real. Had him learn everything about the club from the ground up. Assistant sports director. Sports director. Assistant coach. Castilla coach. Zidane knows the club and management game inside-out. Florentino couldn't have given him a better grounding for what lies ahead.

But if the president wants the Frenchman to be his legacy, he needs to support his coach like he's never done before. This season, the off-the-field drama and the training ground sniping is something a club of Real's stature should never be associated with.

For Florentino and Real, Zidane can be year zero. But for lasting success, the new coach needs a president who puts the club, its values and established principles, first.

'Hala Madrid and nothing else'.