Del Bosque says he rejected Real Madrid return

Vicente del Bosque revealed on Tuesday he had rebuffed overtures for a return to Real Madrid as assistant coach before accepting this week a two-year managerial post with Turkish side Besiktas.

"I was offered a position by my former club but not as coach," Del Bosque told reporters at a ceremony where he signed his multi-million dollar deal.

"I couldn't be an assistant coach so I turned down that offer," he added.

The 53-year-old del Bosque has been unemployed since Real decided last year not to renew his contract after he took the helm in 1999. In that time, he led the team to two European Cups, two league titles and the World Club Cup.

Del Bosque has been charged with improving Besiktas's third-place finish last season that brought a UEFA Cup spot.

He plans to bring the whole of his former Real coaching staff to Istanbul and club officials expect Spanish players to follow.

Del Bosque replaces Mircea Lucescu at Besiktas. The Romanian resigned as coach last month after two years in charge during which time he led the Istanbul club to the league title in 2003.

Del Bosque had spells as youth and caretaker first team coach at Real between 1990 and 1996.