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Pellegrini, the engineer tasked with rebuilding Real
(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-06-03 09:44 MADRID: Real Madrid's new coach Manuel Pellegrini will be under pressure to achieve some early success for new president Florentino Perez, who has vowed to build the "best club of the 21st century". The Chilean, 55, a qualified civil engineer, replaced Juande Ramos on Monday to become Real's seventh manager in the past decade. He was named on the day that Perez, the inspiration behind the 'Galacticos', began his second term in charge of Real, one of the world's most successful clubs but which finished last season without silverware and amid a cloud of corruption involving its former president, Ramon Calderon. Pellegrini arrives in the Spanish capital after five years at Villareal, during which time he maintained the small club in the top flight of the Primera Liga and gained a reputation for encouraging fluid and attacking football. "I have always sought well-played football because I think it is the football that gives the best results," Pellegrini said yesterday as he was presented at the Santiago-Bernabeu stadium. "Very often a lot of journalists oppose a beautiful game in favor of results. In my career I have had the chance to be able to do both, they can go together." In his first season at Villareal the club finished third in La Liga and achieved their first direct qualification for the European Champions League, going on to the semifinals before losing narrowly to Arsenal. Last year, the club, based in a town of just 48,000 inhabitants, achieved its best ever season, finishing as runner-up to Real Madrid. The Champions League will be the main objective next season for Pellegrini and Real, whose last European title was in 2002. That was during the first term of Perez, from 2000 to 2006, when Real earned the nickname "Los Galacticos", winning the Primera Liga twice as well as the European Champions League with such stars as Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Luis Figo, David Beckham and Michael Owen. Perez has not mentioned any names regarding top signings but Spanish media say Manchester United's Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo and Liverpool's Spanish star Xabi Alonso are both in his sights for next season. Known for his attention to detail and careful planning, those around Pellegrini, a father of three, describe him as intelligent and reserved and religous.
The fifth of eight brothers, Pellegrini played almost his entire career with the Universidad de Chile, one of the country's most successful clubs, from 1973 to 1986. Success as a manager with LDU Quito in Ecuador (1999-2000) and in Argentina with San Lorenzo (2000-2002) and River Plate (2002-2003) brought him to the attention of Villareal. At Villareal, he was under little pressure from fans or the press. But that will be quite different at Real, especially with Perez hungry to "return Real Madrid to its rightful place". "I feel emotion and pride to be chosen to lead the most important club in the world," Pellegrini said yesterday." AFP (China Daily 06/03/2009 page22) |