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Real Madrid fire Capello days after title win

June 28th, 2007

Real Madrid have fired coach Fabio Capello, less than two weeks after the Italian led the club to their first piece of major silverware in four years.

In a move that was widely anticipated in the Spanish press over the last few weeks, Madrid sporting director Predrag Mijatovic confirmed at a press conference on Thursday that Capello would not be continuing in the role.

As sporting director I have made a report about all that happened last season,” Mijatovic said following a meeting by the club’s board. With that report, the president and board of directors have taken the unanimous decision not to continue with Fabio Capello as coach.”

Capello’s final competitive game in charge of Madrid proved to be a memorable one, with Real battling back from a half-time deficit to beat Real Mallorca 3-1 at home and pip arch-rivals Barcelona to the title on the final day of the season.

That sparked wild scenes of celebration at the Bernabeu, and later at the Spanish capital’s famous Cibeles fountain in the centre of the city where thousands of people congregated.

However, it was not enough to save the 61-year-old Italian from being cast aside less than a fortnight later.

Media reports suggest former Madrid midfielder Bernd Schuster is favourite to take over from the Italian, although the German’s current club Getafe announced on Thursday morning they had no agreement in place with any other club regarding the coach.

Madrid president Calderon also said last week that Michael Laudrup, Ronald Koeman and Arsene Wenger were among the other coaches that they had looked at.

Entry Filed under: European Football,Sports News & Results