Looks like Bernd Schuster is taking over at Real Madrid - maybe a bit of German discipline is all they need. Where does this leave Mourinho?
Schuster signs pre-contract with Real Madrid
Getafe’s German coach Bernd Schuster has signed a pre-contract agreement to become Real Madrid’s manager next season, according to reports.
Schuster had an oral agreement with Real president Ramn Caldern but German news agency DPA report the former Real Madrid player now has a signed deal that states he will take over from 1 July 2007.
Despite denying initial reports of a deal in Spanish newspaper AS earlier on Thursday, Schuster’s representatives later confirmed the details of the pre-contract agreement to Deutsche Presse-Agentur.
If Real decide not to appoint Schuster as Fabio Capello’s successor the former German international will receive 1m. Likewise, if Schuster decides not to rejoin the club where he spent some of his most glorious years as a player he will have to shell out 1m.
Schuster, who was a flamboyant playmaker for both Barcelona and Real Madrid, has forged one of the best defences in Spain, at Getafe, and his knowledge of La Liga puts him ahead of other candidates such as Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez and Russia coach Guus Hiddink.
In March, Schuster boosted his stock with the Madridstas when he lambasted out-of-favour Capello.
‘Capello only wants to win, it does not matter how, and with that philosophy you will never succeed at Real Madrid,’ he said.
‘It is practically certain he won’t be coach of Real Madrid next season.’
Since then Schuster has been involved with planning Madrid’s summer transfer campaign - demanding any plans of sell defender Fabio Cannavaro are shelved, approving a move for Germany international Christophe Metzelder and suggesting 50m is decent price for Cristiano Ronaldo.