JUANDE Ramos has realised a "dream" after being named the new coach of Real Madrid following the departure of Bernd Schuster.
The former Sevilla and Tottenham head coach was appointed on a six-month contract at the Bernabeu yesterday after German Schuster departed by mutual consent following a meeting with the club's board of directors earlier in the day.
Ramos' appoin
tment to one of the most prestigious posts in world football comes just 45 days after his stock appeared to have hit rock bottom following his dismissal from Spurs, which came after he guided the London club to their worst start to a season.
The 54-year-old, who will lead Madrid for the first time in tomorrow's Champions League Group H match against Zenit St Petersburg, was introduced to the Spanish media at the same press conference which confirmed Schuster's departure.
"I would like to thank the board for their confidence – I face this job with excitement," said Ramos. "It's everybody's dream.
"I hope I don't let anyone down and that I achieve the successes that this club has set for this season."
Ramos, who still enjoys a big reputation in his homeland after guiding Sevilla to back-to-back Uefa Cup wins in 2006 and 2007, revealed that both he and the club have the option to extend their association beyond the end of the season.
"In most of my previous jobs I have had short contracts," he continued. "We came to a quick agreement and I'm delighted. If I'm happy at the end of the season then I might extend the contract. Both sides are free to see what happens."
Schuster, who guided Madrid to the league title last season, left the club having overseen a run of indifferent form for the Spanish champions with Madrid currently in fifth place in the Primera Liga, nine points behind arch-rivals Barcelona.
They were also knocked out of the Copa del Rey by minnows Real Union.
A dejected Schuster seemed to have thrown in the towel following Sunday's 4-3 defeat at home to Sevilla when he admitted his side were incapable of winning El Clasico at Barcelona on Saturday.
"Right now it's not possible to win at the Nou Camp," he said. Speculation had been rife that Schuster's comments had hastened his demise, but Madrid's director of sport, Pedrag Mijatovic, insisted that was not the case.
"We can't pinpoint one specific moment that made us reach this decision," he said. "Making a decision like this isn't easy and we had to make a very deep analysis of the situation of the team.
"Schuster's declaration the other day hasn't had any influence on our decision. Two weeks ago I said that we don't make difficult decisions like this easily."
Mijatovic added: "We spoke to Schuster this morning about all the difficulties over the past few months. We came to the mutual agreement to take this decision. He took the decision well.
"I have to take the opportunity to thank Bernd Schuster for the work he did. He did an excellent job last season to win the title and Spanish Supercopa."
Ramos' biggest task in the early days of his tenure will be to prepare for the all-important clash with Barca.
"
Real Madrid have the character and prestige to face any club in any stadium in the world," he said.
The full article contains 568 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
