FORMER REAL MADRID president Ramon Calderon believes Sergio Ramos and other players helped prevent Jose Mourinho from becoming the club’s new manager.
Madrid named Zinedine Zidane their new boss on Monday, just 10 months after the Frenchman walked away from his managerial role with the Blancos.
Zidane became Madrid’s third manager of a highly disappointing campaign, following Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari, who were both sacked.
Solari’s position became untenable following last week’s shocking Champions League exit at the hands of Ajax, ending Madrid’s run of three straight European titles.
Calderon believes that current president Florentino Perez was hoping to appoint a different former Blancos boss, but Ramos and other Madrid leaders intervened and helped push Perez to re-hire Zidane instead of Mourinho.
“It is great news for Real Madrid,” Calderon told Love Sport Radio of Zidane’s return.
The opinion of the dressing room leaders has prevailed over that of the president, after the quarrel between Sergio Ramos and the president.”
Ramos and other Madrid stars famously feuded with Mourinho during the Portuguese’s time managing Madrid between 2010 and 2013.
“This president thought Mourinho was the right one and he was his first option because he is one of those presidents that thinks a firm hand is important in the dressing room,” Calderon continued.
“But the players, and Sergio Ramos, told him and they did it publicly as well, that you have to take into account which managers have won the Champions League with Real Madrid: [Vicente] Del Bosque, [Carlo] Ancelotti and Zidane. It’s nothing to do with the style of play of Mourinho.
[Zidane's] first idea was to come in June but finally he’s accepted to come now for the rest of the season and for three more years. Finally we can get on the path of victory again.”
Calderon is also hoping that Zidane’s presence will help convince Chelsea star Eden Hazard to trade Stamford Bridge for the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer.
“Hazard has said many times that he likes Real Madrid and that he would be pleased to have an offer from there,” Calderon said.
“He’s also talked about his admiration for Zidane so maybe he can be one of the main signings but it depends on the player and on Chelsea. The price will not be low.”
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What would Calderon know ? . He said Zidane had rejected the offer last week ! Absolute chancer !
Zidane was blessed to have Ronaldo while manager. 99% of game’s were won by him alone over that 3 year success. Zidane won’t know how to rebuild that team to same nights. He needs to sort the Courtouis and wife issue first. Very messy and and unsightly affair all together. Zidane is a legend, Madrid are a toxic club.
@Virgil Van Rock: yawn … see you May 2020 ya mouth !
@Limón Madrugada: Watch out for the parasite Limon
@Limón Madrugada: surely you can get a room before then
@David Weston: surely you’ll find a better one liner by then
@Limón Madrugada: for you pair ?Nah that one is about right
@Limón Madrugada: Point proven Ronaldo drags Juve into last 8, just like last 3 year’s with Real, don’t know what the other guy is chomping at the bit for, parasite ??
@Virgil Van Rock: no ones denying Ronaldos effect . But your clinging to Courtois’ love life is tenuous . Maybe Liverpool should sign Ronaldo ..
@Virgil Van Rock: just wondering when you’ll change your identity , when Liverpool win … or when they lose … either way you’ll be someone else by next month
@Limón Madrugada: Lemon seriously would you Kop on you imbecile
100% spot on to not bring him. Legendary manager but think his time at the top is over the game has passed him by IMO. Be interesting to see him try and win a world cup with Portugal.
@Drew Walsh: Mourinho is a great manager for a tournament . But I think it’s not just a coincidence that why I try to type his name my spellcheck insists on correcting to ‘ mourning’
Would’ve been fun to see him there again
Who’d want to manage a guy like Ramos who cost his own team by cheating
@Martin Brennan: you do mean Sergio Ramos who has 4CL , 3 or 4 ligas , two euros , 1 World Cup 3 world club championships a couple of Copa del Reys ?? Nah he’s a loser
@Limón Madrugada: a drug cheating loser
@Getard Lanslanger: who happens to have loads of medals and no history of drugs , unlike for example Pep Guardiola …
Jose won’t get a massive job like that again. A talented manager but one who’s ego outgrew the talent, and ended up becoming an insufferable bore