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Mourinho and Zidane at Real Madrid back in 2011. Dargent Vincent

'The first option was Mourinho' - Real Madrid wanted Jose before turning to Zizou

The club’s former president Ramon Calderon claims they were keen to bring the Portuguese coach back.

JOSE MOURINHO WAS Florentino Perez’s first choice as Real Madrid head coach, and not Zinedine Zidane, according to former club president Roman Calderon.

Club great Zidane was appointed as Madrid’s third coach of the season earlier this week after the Spanish giants had underwhelmed under the leadership of Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari.

Los Blancos have fallen 12 points off the pace in La Liga and were dumped out of the Champions League in a 4-1 humbling by Ajax at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The 46-year-old Frenchman returns after a trophy-laden 28-month spell in charge, which started in January 2016, as he led Madrid to three straight Champions League triumphs and a La Liga title.

But despite Zidane overseeing Madrid’s successful era, it was another ex-head coach who was Perez’s go-to guy, according to Calderon.

The first option was Mourinho, and Mourinho was the one who was going to come to Real Madrid because he’s the only coach the president respects,” said Calderon, as reported in Spanish media outlet AS.

“Florentino sees the Portuguese coach as a shield. “He says what nobody dares, he blames the referees, the press, [he says] that which is not normally said.”

Calderon revealed he is not in agreement with Perez, which he believes is a belief shared among key figures in the Madrid dressing room.

“The dressing room leaders pushed to reject the possibility of Jose Mourinho,” Calderon told Sky Sports. “He left [Real Madrid] a lot of problems and I think he would have been another problem to the ones we already have if he had come.

“I think Jose Mourinho would have been a step backwards, there was a lot of problems and controversy when he was here.

“He is a good coach with a lot of trophies but many of the leaders in the dressing room didn’t like him and I think that was important in the decision-making.”

Bernard Jackman joins Murray Kinsella and Ryan Bailey on The42 Rugby Weekly as Ireland bid to spoil Wales’ Grand Slam party in Cardiff, and the U20s target their own piece of history.


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    Mute samstheman
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    Mar 18th 2019, 11:00 PM

    It really is people from outside the club who are concerned about his dry spell. 17 goals 7 assists & well in the hunt for the golden boot again

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    Mute Fr Romeo sensini.
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    Mar 19th 2019, 8:51 AM

    @samstheman: his finishing and awareness of players around him recently has been shocking, pressure?

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    Mute Battaz
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    Mar 18th 2019, 11:09 PM

    Even when Salah hits a dry patch the opposition are fixated on him!
    Liverpool are Top of the Premiership, and in the quarter finals of the Champion’s League!
    Slow news day?

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    Mute Derek Trotter
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    Mar 18th 2019, 11:17 PM

    @Battaz: tbf its not news but for salah to come out of his dry spell( if ya can call it that) would be a massive boost for lfc. While their in a great posistion city still there and augero scoring. Messi/ronaldo scoring for europes big teams.

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    Mute Fred McHugh
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    Mar 18th 2019, 10:25 PM

    Salah is selfish. Always angry and moody when he doesn’t score yet the team are winning.

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    Mute Derek Trotter
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    Mar 18th 2019, 10:45 PM

    @Fred McHugh: all top strikers/goal scorers have that trait. Its a positive in a goal scorer. Top top player

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    Mute Willy Motley
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    Mar 18th 2019, 10:52 PM

    @Fred McHugh: talking ouv your hoop

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    Mute Aileen Frost
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    Mar 19th 2019, 1:32 AM

    @Fred McHugh: thats what top strikers are …. Not ever happy with what they have . MON DA POOL

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    Mute Conor Pocock
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    Mar 19th 2019, 4:18 AM

    @Fred McHugh: can only agree with you Frederick. That accidental assist for Mane with the outside of his right foot v Munich was absolute and utter greed. Sell him to West Ham and be off with him

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    Mute Conor Pocock
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    Mar 19th 2019, 4:19 AM

    @Conor Pocock: left foot…. doh :)

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