The Spanish trainer was booted out of the Bernabeu after less than a year in charge, and Calderon revealed the likes of Mourinho, Low and Klopp were offered the job before him
Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon affirmed Rafa Benitez did not stand a chance of success at the club, while tipping Zinedine Zidane to fare better than the ex-Liverpool man.
Benitez lasted less than a season at the Santiago Bernabeu before a draw with Valencia prompted his sacking in January.
According to Florentino Perez's predecessor at the helm, he was never wanted by the Madrid hierachy and only turned to in desperation.
"Benitez was a coach who was already a dead man walking from the start at Real Madrid," he explained.
"That's because he was not the chosen one, he was the fourth option. They tried to bring [Jose] Mourinho but the Portuguese did not want to go back.
"After that they tried to get Joachim Low, and he didn't want to come either. The third person they tried to get was [Jurgen] Klopp, and the German also rejected.
"So the last option was Rafa Benitez. They brought him in even though he didn't suit Real Madrid's style."
In comparison to the unfortunate Benitez, Calderon is far more positive about the future now Zidane sits on the bench - despite his status as a coaching rookie.
"Zidane is an unknown because he does not have any coaching experience, he has been coaching for a year and a half for a team in the third division," he pointed out.
"But on the other hand, he has the advantage of being a great former player, who has his own experience in how to deal with these kinds of superstars.
"He already knows how to deal with the dressing room filled with stars because he was in one of them, many players have already worked for him and have a great respect for him.
- Goal