REAL MADRID 2011 | MOURINHO THINKING IN MAKING TEAM CAPTAIN AN ON-FIELD PLAYER ?

Real Madrid
Spanish Football Sports paper "Marca" publish today an interesting article that should interest REAL MADRID fans & no doubt people within the Clubs dressing-room. According to the Sports paper Real Madrid Coach Jose Mourinho is planning to make a strategic decison for next season by allocating the "Captains armband" away from current Captain goalkeeper IKER CASILLAS onto an on-field player.

This is a theory that has been around for sometime in Football. Many Coaches believe that the team Captain is more useful & effective participating directly on the field instead of watch the action from the goal posts. For example, the only player that can really "argue " a referee decision is the Captain, & if your 60 mts away from the action little you can do to pressure decisions.

Iker Casillas

The decision to "take away" the Captains armband from Casillas is delicate & risky, thus José Mourinho will have to use all his diplomatic skills, place firm & solid arguments so as not to ruffle feathers. Which raises the question: who would best be placed to be the "on-field" Captain? Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso or Sergio Ramos?

Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso & Sergio Ramos

Without knowing anything about the insides of the Real Madrid Club,  & as a simple observer from afar, I would think XABI ALONSO would be the ideal consensus candidate. Xabi Alonso has a certain "neutral" profile & has the sufficient personality & leadership qualities that may well avoid controversial debates & dress-room bad feeling. I say this if José Mourinho does finally put into practice want has been reported today in the Sports paper.

Who would you give the armband too, & why?

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Mourinho handed five-match ban

Jose Mourinho has been hit with a five-game European ban by UEFA following his behaviour during and after Real Madrid's Champions League semi-final against Barcelona.



Mourinho has already served one game of the suspension after being sent to the stands in the first leg at Santiago Bernabeu, with a further match suspended for three years, meaning he will miss the first three games of Real's Champions League campaign next season.



The Portuguese was sent to the stands by referee Wolfgang Stark after sarcastically applauding the decision to dismiss midfielder Pepe for a challenge on Dani Alves.



After the match, Mourinho launched into a withering attack on UEFA, and suggested that the favourable decisions going the way of Barcelona were due to a conspiracy in favour of the Catalan outfit.



"It's clear that against Barcelona you have no chance," he said.



"I don't understand why. I don't know if it's the publicity of Unicef [the charity who provides the club's shirt sponsor].



"I don't know if it's the friendship of Spanish Football Federation president Angel Maria Villar at UEFA, where he is vice-president. I don't know if it's because they are very nice, but they've got this power.



"The rest of us have no chance."



Mourinho has also been fined €50,000, while Pepe was issued with a one-match ban, although this is deemed to have been served as he was suspended for the second leg at Camp Nou



Mourinho elected not to attend the clash at Camp Nou, watching the game on television from his Barcelona hotel.



Real, who were also fined €20,000 for the behaviour of their fans, immediately announced they would appeal.



The club said in a statement: "Real Madrid CF considers this resolution still suffers from the same defects found at the start of the disciplinary case, which made it impossible for our coach to use his right to defend himself, since the exact statements for which the disciplinary case was opened are still unknown.



"Real Madrid CF will appeal this decision before the UEFA appeals body."



Mourinho was previously banned from the touchline for two matches in 2005 for alleging then-Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard had influenced referee Anders Frisk, while earlier this season he was banned for one match after appearing to instruct Real players Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos to be deliberately sent off.



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Mourinho fumes over 'scandal'

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho was left fuming after his side went down 2-0 to Barcelona in Wednesday's Champions League semi-final first leg.



The home side were forced to play the final half an hour with 10 men after Pepe was dismissed for a late challenge on Dani Alves, although replays suggested the decision was harsh.



Mourinho was also sent to the stands for remonstrating with referee Wolfgang Stark and was left angered by the decisions of the match official.



"Another miracle with 10 men wasn't possible," said Mourinho.



"Yes, I think we are eliminated. We will go to Camp Nou with everything and to get a result but I can't see it.



"We will be without Pepe and (Sergio) Ramos who didn't do anything and neither did I.



"I just want to know why? Why did Pepe get sent off? I just want someone to explain. Why did it happen?



"If I say what I think my career ends today.



"Sometimes I am a little bit disgusted to live in this world, but this is the world we live in.



"If we go there (Nou Camp) and score a goal, they will kill us again. We have no chance. They have to get to the final and that's that.



"Congratulations to a fantastic football team. But congratulations for all they have as well, it must be difficult to get to get all this power. Where does this power come from?



Scandal of the Bernabeu

Mourinho reminded reporters of Barca's semi-final victory over his former club Chelsea in 2009, the Inter semi-final from last season and now "the scandal of the Bernabeu," suggesting referees were favouring the Catalan outfit.



"This thing happens in each semi-final," he said. "I am here just to ask this question and I hope to get the answer one day.



"Guardiola is a fantastic coach, but he has won one Champions League which I would be ashamed to win after the scandal at Stamford Bridge and this year, if he wins it again, it will be after the scandal at the Bernabeu.



"I hope that one day he will win a clean Champions League, with no incidents behind it.



"Today it's clear that against Barcelona you have no chance. I don't understand why. I don't know if it's the publicity of UNICEF (the club's shirt sponsor), I don't know if it's the friendship of (Spanish football federation president Angel Maria) Villar at UEFA, where he is vice-president, I don't know if it's because they are very nice, but they have got this power. The rest of us have no chance.



"Why couldn't Chelsea reach the final two years ago? It was a miracle that Inter reached the final last year.



"I am here just to ask this question and I hope to get the answer one day."




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Jose Mourinho Wants John Terry At Real Madrid

Interesting news are out and it has been revealed that Jose Mourinho wants to bring Chelsea skipper John Terry to Real Madrid in the summer.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the Special One has urged Real president Florentino Perez to sound out Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich about his willingness to sell the England captain at the end of this season.

It is said that Mourinho believes Terry can be Real’s answer to the bedrock of Barcelona, Carles Puyol.

Now 30, there has been speculation Terry’s position at Chelsea is under scrutiny and Mourinho is ready to pounce should he become available.

The former Chelsea manager is ready to stay with Real next season, particularly after delivering the Copa del Rey to Perez last week.

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Inter boss Leonardo brushes off Mourinho return rumours

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Inter coach Leonardo has brushed aside speculation that Jose Mourinho could return to the club in the summer.



Real Madrid coach Mourinho has been linked with a return to the San Siro where he won the unprecedented Treble of Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League last season.



Inter have struggled since Mourinho's departure to Real Madrid, with Rafael Benitez departing despite winning the Club World Cup in December. New boss Leonardo enjoyed a promising start to his tenure, but last week Inter were knocked out of the Champions League by Schalke, while they they currently sit third in Serie A, eight points adrift of his former club and league leaders Milan.



"I am not worried about these rumours,'' Leonardo said. "I'm not thinking about the future. I live in the present. I don't even think about these things.



"I have an open rapport with the club president (Massimo Moratti). He knows me, knows what I think and the only thing that interests me is to find a solution so that the team wins.''



Leonardo was speaking after Tuesday night's 1-0 win at Roma in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-finals.



"It was important to halt the negative run of results," he continued. "It wasn't easy, especially after our Champions League elimination.



"But against Roma we showed maturity and we took an important result - something that is not easy to do in Rome. Now we must continue to win. We still have five league games and the Coppa Italia and we need to remain lucid and calm.''




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Real Madrid Target Carlo Ancelotti To Replace Jose Mourinho

Sensational news are out and it has been revealed that Real Madrid have Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti on their shortlist to replace Jose Mourinho in the summer.

The Daily Mail has reported that the Italian tactican is on a shortlist of candidates to take over at Real Madrid when Mourinho’s controversial reign comes to an end.

It is believed that Real Madrid chiefs have become increasingly concerned at Mourinho’s admission that he has ‘unfinished business’ in England, and his strained relationship with the Spanish media.

Real have made Chelsea boss Ancelotti one of the leading contenders to fill the possible vacancy and have even put feelers out to gauge his readiness to take on one of the biggest challenges in the game.

Ancelotti seems certain to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season, after being left in little doubt he will have to pay with his job for falling behind in the Barclays Premier League title race and missing out on the Champions League title.

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Mourinho looking ahead to Barcelona

Jose Mourinho is looking forward to another meeting with Barcelona in the Champions League.



After wrapping up a 5-0 aggregate victory over Tottenham on Wednesday, the Real Madrid has boss moved closer to a third European crown, having previously claimed the trophy with Porto and Inter.



A tie with arch-rivals Barcelona awaits them in the semi-finals, and Mourinho has plenty previous experience of playing the Catalan outfit in this competition.



"I have to train with ten men, how to play with ten men," Mourinho told ITV on his plans for a meeting with Barcelona.



"I go there with Chelsea, I finish with ten. I go there with Inter, I finish with ten. I have to train to play with ten men because it can happen again."



Mourinho was happy to see Real finish the job off against Spurs in midweek, with most of the work having been done during a 4-0 first leg victory.



On Wednesday's showdown at White Hart Lane, which his side won courtesy of a Cristiano Ronaldo shot which squirmed through Heurelho Gomes' grasp.



"It was difficult. If they had scored in the first-half, it would have been even more difficult," he said.



Mourinho defended his selection, despite losing Ricardo Carvalho to suspension for the semi-final.



"I think I was right when I decided to play with a good team," he continued. "Tottenham had a couple of chances and of course 4-0 is a good difference but if they scored in the first half with an incredible crowd and a good team it could have be difficult.''



"They played with a lot of pride, with great motivation and the public were fantastic in getting behind them. They gave us a very difficult match.



"Probably the result shouldn't have been our victory, I think a draw would have been fair and a good bonus for them after what they gave. It was difficult, but of course I am happy to be in the semis."



Manchester United and Schalke will contest the other semi-final and Mourinho admits he would relish the opportunity to test himself against Sir Alex Ferguson at Wembley.



"I expect Man U to be there, yes," he said.



"They are the better team. They have a different stature than Schalke at this level. But football is football and Sir Alex will tell his players that you have to respect opponents, even if you know that you are the best team.



"I hope Man United is at Wembley and if it is Man U against Real, that would be the perfect final for me."



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Mourinho Keen On Signing Olympique Marseille Wing-Back Taye Taiwo

It has been revealed that Real Madrid are interested in want-away Olympique Marseille wing-back Taye Taiwo.

The 25 year old Nigeria international has declared that he is ready to leave the French giants in the summer when he comes off contract.

Taiwo on his part has aadmitted an ambition to play for Chelsea, while he is also keen on AC Milan.

However Marca has reported that Real coach Jose Mourinho is a big fan of the free-scoring wing-back and wants to bring him to Madrid in the summer.

Mourinho even tried to prise Taiwo away from Marseille while in charge of Inter Milan and remains a huge admirer of the Nigerian.

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Capello unhappy with Mourinho remarks

England coach Fabio Capello has accused Jose Mourinho of disrespect over his claim he was the offered the England job before the Italian was appointed.



Mourinho claimed yesterday in an interview with L'Equipe that he was the FA's first choice to replace Steve McClaren in 2007.



Former Chelsea boss Mourinho claims he would have taken the England job had he not undergone a last-minute change of heart.



Capello claims he doesn't comment on jobs he has been linked with, out of respect for his fellow mangers.



"I don't speak about the relationship with the other clubs, for respect for other managers," said Capello.



"I don't like to speak about my relationship with the clubs, with other people. These are my personal secrets. I'll never tell you about what really happened in my career.



"I think it's serious. Every time a club or a different national team decides to choose a manager, they decide to speak with a lot of managers. It's normal. It's not different.



"This is a question for the chairman that chose me, not a question for me.



"I don't like to speak about this. I've said enough. Thank you."



The FA was also quick to dismiss Mourinho's claim that he was close to becoming England manager.



"Fabio was our first choice for England manager," said a spokesman for the FA.



"We have made that clear from the outset."



Although he may have been the FA's first choice there been some complaints that he has not devoted enough time to the post, notably his failure to master the English language.



However, the Italian insists his command of the language is sufficient to communicate with the players.



"How many languages do you speak?" he challenged.



"When I speak with the players they understand everything and that is what is important in this job.



"If I need to speak about the economy or other things, I can't, but when you speak about tactics, you don't use a lot of words.



"I don't have to speak about a lot of different things. Maximum 100 words."



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Mourinho claims he turned down England job

Jose Mourinho claims that he came close to becoming the England manager but underwent a last-minute change of heart.



The former Chelsea manager has admitted that he came within 'hours' of succeeding the sacked Steve McClaren in 2007, as the Football Association sought a new coach after the failure to qualify for Euro 2008.



Mourinho was a free agent at the time, having left Stamford Bridge two months before McClaren was fired.



But the Portuguese instead opted for Inter, where he enjoyed Treble-winning success, before moving on to his current job at Real Madrid.



Mourinho told l'Equipe: "I was hours away - I almost signed up for the England national team.



"But at the last minute I began thinking, 'I am going to coach a national side, there will be one match a month and the rest of the time I will be in my office or overseeing matches.



"And then to have to wait until the summer to compete in a European Championship or a World Cup'? No, it wasn't for me.



"So at the last moment I pulled back, preferring to wait for the right job to come along, a good club, a challenge that could motivate me. That was Inter (Milan)."



Mourinho was out of the game for nine months before being appointed Inter coach in June 2008, leaving them for Madrid last summer.



"When I left Chelsea, the first month was fantastic. I went to Africa, to Japan, I did tons of things I had not been able to do," he added.



"The second month was also good, but from the third onwards it was horrible, just awful."



Mourinho admitted he also came close to taking the Paris St Germain, but decided against it as he was not convinced by Ligue 1's quality.



Asked why he did not take the PSG post, he said: "I do not know. Perhaps because of the feeling that England, Spain or Italy are more powerful leagues, and we must make the most of the best years of our career by working at the highest level."



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Mourinho signals intention to return to England

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has again reiterated his desire to return to England.



The former Chelsea boss has often spoken of his love for the English game and despite enjoying great success since leaving Stamford Bridge, most notably with Inter with whom he won the treble last season, Mourinho is relishing a return to the Premier League.



"I miss England and my next job will be in England," he told The Sun.



"There is unfinished business.



"And I think England wants me back, no? It was the most enjoyable time of my career.



"My Chelsea time was amazing as a football manager and family man. My family and I enjoyed it so much. We made so many friends here. We still keep in touch, we still come back.



"In football there are a few victories here I would like to repeat. I will talk to my agent and get a project for my career.



"I still have three years at Real Madrid. It is the biggest club in the world but it is also the most difficult club in the world.



"They came to me for the third time and I could not say no to them for the third time - I had to go.



"And I had to go to Italy, that was important for me because I wanted to try there. Everyone said it was the home of tactics so I said let me try there.



"But it is not England, England is special. People in Italy, Spain and Portugal ask me why I love England so much and I can't explain - I just do.



"I want to be happy in my work. I want to be happy with my football."




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Mourinho : Ronaldo Will Play Against Tottenham

Jose Mourinho is highly confident that Cristiano Ronaldo will make Real Madrid’s Champions League clash with Tottenham.

The Portuguese international is currently struggling with a hamstring injury.

Mourinho said: “I think he can play against Tottenham, we do not have a game this weekend and that will allow him to recover. I believe he will not play against Sporting, we do not want to risk anything because I want him to be good for the Champions League match.

“We hope and we want him to be strong against Tottenham.”

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LIONEL MESSI HIGHEST MONEY EARNER IN WORLD FOOTBALL 2010 | MOURINHO HIGHEST PAID COACH IN 2010

According to “France Football”, FC Barcelona Football player LIONEL MESSI repeats again in 2010 as the “Highest Paid Player in the World”. This takes into account his Club salary, different incentives & bonuses & other monetary concepts ( such as publicity, sponsorship, merchandising …etc)

Lionel Messi

Top 10 money earners in World Football Players:

1.Messi, 31 million €

2.Cristiano Ronaldo, 27,5

3.Rooney, 20,7

4.Kaká, 19,3

5.Beckham, 19

6.Ronaldinho, 18,3

7.Tévez, 15,4

8.Lampard, 14,2

9.Touré Yayá, 13,8

10.Henry, 13,2

Lionel Messi with his 31M€ makes him the 7th highest paid on the planet. First is Tiger Woods (Golf) with 53M€, followed by another golf player Phil Mickelson with 40M€, with F1 driver Michael Schumacher in third with (Auto) with 39M€.

Jose Mourinho

In the Coaching area, Real Madrid JOSÉ MOURINHO tops the list of Football Coaches for 2010 with 13,5M€. He is followed by:

2. Josep Guardiola ( FC Barcelona) – 10,5M€

3. Rafael Benitez (ex Inter Milan) – 10,2M€

4. Fabio Capello ( England National Team) – 8,5M€

5. Alex Fergusen (Manchester United) – 6,9M€

6. Arsene Wenger (Arsenal) – 6,6M€
 

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Lionel Messi, Jose Mourinho Named As The Richest Men In Football

According to France Football magazine survey, Barcelona star Lionel Messi and Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho are the richest men in football.

Argentine forward Messi, the two-time World Player of the Year, reportedly brought home €31 million from his salary and publicity deals in 2011, just ahead of Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo (€27.5 million) and Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney (€20.7 million).

Jose Mourinho topped the manager’s rich list with an income of €13.5 million, ahead of Barcelona’s Pep Guardiola (€10.5 million) and former Inter Milan coach Rafael Benitez (€10.2 million).

England manager Fabio Capello came fourth with the Italian receiving a salary of €8.5 million.

The English Premier League appears the most lucrative league of all with seven representatives in the top 20 list of highest paid players.

Two former Premier League stars, David Beckham and Thierry Henry, now playing in the MLS in the United States, are ranked fifth and 11 with salaries of €19 million and €13.6 million respectively.

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Jose Mourinho Happy With The Form Of Iker Casillas

Reports are out claiming that Jose Mourinho is grateful to skipper Iker Casillas after victory over Atletico.

The Real Madrid boss has hailed the performance of the World Cup winning star, who made a string of impressive saves to keep Atletico at bay before finally being beaten by Sergio Aguero near the end.

Mourinho said : “Casillas has done a fantastic job. I like it when my goalkeeper doesn’t have much to do in a game, and he had a lot to do tonight and he was fantastic,”.

“Atletico have shown their great spirit and quality of play, and Madrid had an answer to those who thought that the league finished today.

“I was very worried (about a late equaliser), but at the same time I was full of trust in the players’ mentality and fighting spirit.

“I know football and many things happen in the last minutes and change the result. But they fought, they gave everything and I’m pleased for the players.”

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Jose Mourinho Pleased With The Performance Of Lassana Diarra

Jose Mourinho has admitted that he was pleased with the performance of Lassana Diarra in victory over Atletico Madrid.

“I opted for three midfielders because I knew the team was tired and to make the team more compact,” said Mourinho.

“I wanted to rest some players but I did want to risk our championship chances ending today. It was a risk but you have to take each day as it comes. Now we will have three days of rest.”

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Mourinho plays down Lyon jinx

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Real Madrid will be looking to end their jinx against Lyon in European competition on Wednesday and reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2004.



Madrid drew 1-1 in the away leg in France with the return on Wednesday at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.



Twelve months ago the French club knocked out the nine-time champions at the same stage. Juventus, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Roma, Liverpool and Lyon have all sent Madrid out since it's last victory in the knockout stages against Bayern seven years ago.



“Yes, this run of bad results works against Real Madrid. But the game will be open and Madrid have a small advantage,” Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said.



“But if we don't get through this year it's not a big problem. Serious problems are what is happening in Japan right now.”



Cristiano Ronaldo has included in the Real squad as Madrid look for its first victory over Lyon in seven Champions League matches. The Portugal forward, who leads the team with 37 goals in all competitions, has missed two league games with a leg injury.



“It's the first time that Lyon plays their second match here without an advantage. At this point we're qualified and they have to play a big game,” Mourinho said.



“We will play very defensively. We'll stack the back and hope (goalkeeper Iker) Casillas makes a lot of stops so if it ends 0-0 we're through.”



Mourinho's future at Madrid could depend on the result as the Portuguese coach was hired to end Madrid's drought in the competition.



“Madrid is the champion of champions but obviously they need to win it again," he said.



"Mourinho is one of three coaches to have won Champions League twice with different clubs so if I don't win another I'll still go down in the competition's history. But I still want to win another. (But) everybody wants to play, nobody is afraid. There's no special pressure for it.”



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Neville plays down Mourinho rumours

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Gary Neville admits Jose Mourinho could one day manage Manchester United but he insisted Sir Alex Ferguson is in no hurry to retire.



Mourinho has made no secret of his desire to return to manage in the Premier League, where he enjoyed great success with Chelsea before leaving in 2007.



But former United defender Neville cannot envisage Ferguson, now 69, standing down from his position at Old Trafford in the near future.



He told The Sun: "There are many great managers and there's always speculation about who's going to take over from Sir Alex. I'm sure when the time does come, Mourinho is one of the candidates who will be mentioned because of the success he's had elsewhere.



"He's a character. You have to respect people for what they do and he's very good at what he does. He's been successful wherever he's been. But it doesn't come into my head at this moment in time as Sir Alex is still going stronger than ever. It's a waste of time to start speculating who will take over from him.''



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