• La Liga

Madrid pave the way for Mourinho

ESPNsoccernet staff
May 26, 2010
Jose Mourinho is expected to replace Manuel Pellegrini at Real Madrid © Getty Images
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Real Madrid have announced the sacking of manager Manuel Pellegrini, paving the way for Jose Mourinho to take up the vacant Bernabeu hotseat.

Chilean boss Pellegrini led Real to their best ever La Liga points total but failed to win a trophy, prompting the board to dismiss him less than a year after arriving.

Pellegrini was charged with bringing domestic and European glory to the club, on the back of Barcelona's treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League triumphs in 2009.

But despite Real spending €252 million on new faces including Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso, los Merengues failed to win any major silverware.

Pellegrini's side finished second in the Primera Division, exited the Champions League at the last-16 stage and were knocked out of the Copa del Rey by lower league minnows Alcorcon.

And with Real's reputation for sacking managers, Pellegrini's future always appeared in doubt - Vicente del Bosque is the only boss to have overseen more than 100 games at the club since 1989.

Real president Florentino Perez revealed the decision at a press conference on Tuesday, thanking Pellegrini for his efforts and admitting that the board wholeheartedly supported the appointment of Mourinho as the new manager.

"We have dedicated the last few weeks to analysing and reflecting upon the past season. And we have decided to bring to an end Manuel Pellegrini's time at the club,'' Perez said. "We want to thank him and his team for their hard work, professionalism and conduct.

"The board also agreed to contract Jose Mourinho as the new coach of Real Madrid once his contractual relationship with Inter Milan has been resolved. We are 100% behind the need for a change and we are very happy that Jose will be the man to take over the reins at Real Madrid."

Mourinho, who led Inter to an unprecedented treble of Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League titles, is under contract with the Nerazzurri until June 2012, but has a get-out clause in his deal which will be exercised should Madrid meet the fee of €16 million euros.

The Portuguese boss has appeared confident over the past few days that he will be coaching in Spain next season, and after meeting with Inter's finance director Rinaldo Ghelfi in Milan on Tuesday said: "Now I am on holiday, then I will go and work in Spain.''

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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