the coaching merry-go-round
Get ready for José Mourinho, because he’s coming to Madrid! (Marca’s FP stamp is back, and updated for 2010!) Like the special one that he is, he comes with a transfer fee, will have a presentation, and a fat salary.
FP traveled to Milan yesterday to negotiate Mourinho’s exit, and since he always gets what he wants, he was able to agree with Milan to let their coach go for €8 million, according to Madrid, or €10 million, according to Milan, depending on what version you believe. Moratti had said earlier that he expected €16 million,. It took less than three hours, no surprise given that FP is a master negotiator, and FP was back in Madrid in time for dinner.
In this way, Mourinho becomes the most expensive coach in Madrid’s history (Pellegrini held the previous record with €4 million – which now seems a waste since we knew all along that he would be fired at some point during the season or after, just like all his predecessors). Mourinho has signed on four years, although Madrid’s history in the past decade with regards to its coaches shows that that’s a bit optimistic. Should we start taking bets now on how long he will sit on the bench? As for salary, apparently he will receive ¡€10 million a year!
The presentation will take place on Monday at 13h, and it’s been reported that TSO told Madrid he wanted it to be discrete, unlike those of Cristiano or Kaká. It will be held in the press room (Pellegrini’s took place in the Palco de Honor of the stadium) in the presence of Madrid’s nine European Cups (those cups really work hard!), and TSO will receive a special pen from FP as a souvenir, like all the coaches before him.
In a two-part interview with AS, Mourinho implied that Guti was not in his plans, but Raúl is, because he hasn’t spoken out about his situation, unlike Guti. He added that he would like to sit down with el capitán to discuss his situation.
Meanwhile, Pellegrini signed an agreement to leave on Thursday, and also said good-bye to the club’s employees. In an interview with El Larguero, Pellegrini said that he had wanted Sneijder and Robben to stay, and revealed that the opinion of the coach is not looked upon highly by the club – the coach receives no respect and has no authority. We also find out that he hasn’t spoken with FP since last August, and never got to know him either as a president or as a person! Pellegrini added that he saw all this coming.
I agree with what he said, and I think it’s quite disrespectful of the club to have started talking to a new coach before finalizing Pellegrini’s stay at the club. The question is, will Mourinho have the authority that all the past coaches of FP’s two reigns have not? He will definitely need that to succeed.
