MADRID, June 28
(Reuters) - Real Madrid sacked coach Fabio Capello on
Thursday, 11 days after he led them to their first Primera Liga
title in four years.
The 61-year-old Italian, who also won the league title with Real in
the 1996-97 season during his first spell at the club, had two
years left to run on his contract.
'We have taken the decision not to continue with Fabio Capello next
season,' said Real Madrid sporting director Predrag
Mijatovic.
'It was a difficult decision, but it was a unanimous decision based
on an exhaustive report I made to the board.
'We don't think Fabio Capello is the right person to lead Real
Madrid into the future given what we want this club to
achieve.'
'Now we have time to think over who will be the next coach of the
club.'
'I haven't managed to talk it over with him personally because he
is on holiday at the moment, but I did manage to speak to his son
who is also his lawyer.'
Capello was brought in by newly elected club president Ramon
Calderon last July and charged with the task of reining in the
players, clearing out the dead wood and getting the club back to
winning ways.
The Italian, who has won a league title with every club he has
managed, delivered in all areas.
He restored team discipline, and ended the club's worst run of form
in over 50 years by leading them to the league title.
But although the team got back on the trophy trail, they did not
play with the sort of open, attacking style demanded by the club
and its fans.
The local media subjected Capello to a constant barrage of
criticism for what they saw as conservative tactics, while fans
called for his resignation after the team exited the Champions
League and the King's Cup earlier in the season.
Although many commentators gave him the benefit of the doubt over
his decision to offload Ronaldo, he came under fire from all
quarters for sidelining David Beckham after the midfielder's
announcement that he would be leaving the club.
It was only during the team's thrilling run-in to the end of the
season that the criticism from the media relented.
The decision to oust Capello is confirmation of the chronic
instability at a club which has devoured seven coaches in the space
of just four years.
Getafe coach Bernd Schuster, a former player at Real, is the
favourite to replace him.
what the f*ck !!!