London, May 31 (IANS) Jose Mourinho is the new Real Madrid coach, the ninth one for the Spanish football club in six years.
The former Chelsea manager replaces Manuel Pellegrini. The Portuguese coach, who has signed a four-year deal with the Spanish giants, was presented to the public at a press conference held at the club’s imposing headquarters, the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
The move follows his triumph in the Champions League final with Inter Milan, who he also guided to Coppa Italia and Serie A success, and the resolution of a dispute between the two clubs over the terms of his exit. At issue was a 13.6 million pounds release clause in Mourinho’s contract with Inter, which had two years to run. Real are reported to have agreed to pay 6.8 million pounds of this.
‘I don’t know if I was born to coach Real Madrid but I was born to be a football coach. I love important challenges,’ Mourinho was quoted as saying in The Times.
‘I am Jose Mourinho and I don’t change. I arrive with all my qualities and my defects.
‘My attraction to Real Madrid is due to its history, its frustrations in recent years and its expectations to win.
‘It’s a unique club and I believe that not to coach Real leaves a void in a coach’s career. Luckily, I’ve had a beautiful career and it makes me proud to have come here.
‘The beauty is not so much to train or play at Real, but to win at Real Madrid. I want this group to have an identity, to win everything.’
Commenting on Pellegrini’s dismissal, Mourinho said: ‘The sacking of Pellegrini doesn’t make me happy. I am never happy when a coach is sacked. But football is like that.’
‘I think a coach needs to be ready to be sacked,’ Mourinho said. ‘But if a coach fears that, he doesn’t work well and has great problems.
Jorge Valdano, Real’s sporting director, said: ‘Mourinho has signed a contract for four seasons. It’s an honour to have with us one of the most prestigious coaches in the world.’
