Real Madrid have included England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson and Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho on a seven-man shortlist from which they hope to find a replacement for Juan Ramon Lopez Caro.
Four English-based managers and three Italians appear on the shortlist, announced by Real Madrid president Fernando Martin on Monday.
Eriksson, who ends his job as England coach after this summer’s World Cup, is perhaps one of the more realistic options ahead of Mourinho, Liverpool’s Rafael Benitez and Arsenal supremo Arsene Wenger — all of whom have pledged allegiance to their respective clubs.
Carlo Ancelotti, who the Spanish press have trumpeted as the next Real manager despite him signing a new contract extension with AC Milan, is included alongside fellow Italians Fabio Capello (Juventus) and Marcello Lippi, who coaches Italy’s national side.
Real spokesperson Antonio Garcia Ferreras told Agence France-Presse on Tuesday: ”Real Madrid have composed a list which includes some of the best coaches in football at the moment. We’ve analysed the situation and believe that the next coach will come from the six or seven names who are being most talked about in the press.”
In an interview with Spanish television station Antena 3 on Monday, Martin said: ”We know what type of coach we want and we want one of the ones that you all know. I am not going to say them in order of preference, but they are Mourinho, Capello, Benitez, Wenger, Ancelotti, Lippi and Eriksson.”
From the four English-based managers cited Eriksson appears the most likely candidate.
The nine-times European champions have failed to qualify for the Champions League quarterfinals for the second year in a row. This season they were eliminated by Arsenal.
Real last won the Champions League in 2002 and made it to the semifinals in 2003. In 2004 they were eliminated at the quarterfinal stage by eventual finalists Monaco.
Five of the coaches on Real’s list — Mourinho, Wenger, Benitez, Ancelotti and Capello — have already stated their intention to remain at their respective clubs.
However, Ferreras added: ”The coaches say what they have to say out of respect for their club, and because the season is still ongoing. We’ve excluded no one from the list. We haven’t set a deadline, and although the season finishes earlier for us this year [May 15 in Spain], we still have time.
”In any case, we will hold talks with the club and the coach concerned, or with the federation if it is a national team coach.” — AFP
