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 Ramón
Calderón 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.
Too bad jose, seems like the
Madrid job is taken... Better be nice to Roman now if you still
want to stay... 
