Lopez Caro still hoping he can hang on to Real job

Real Madrid coach Juan Ramon Lopez Caro is still hoping he can persuade club president Fernando Martin to let him keep his job next season.

"I am capable of doing this job and I will prove it in the future," Lopez Caro told Spanish sports daily AS on Saturday. "I have no doubt about that.

"I still haven't given up hope that I can continue coaching Real Madrid. That's my dream."

Martin, who has said that Lopez Caro will remain in charge until the end of the season, added recently that he had decided on the next coach but would not reveal his identity.

Lopez Caro took charge in December last year following the sacking of Vanderlei Luxemburgo.

He made a promising enough start but the team then lost form and were eliminated from both the King's Cup and the Champions League.

In the league they trail arch-rivals Barcelona by 13 points in third place with nine games left..

Leading suggested candidates for the post of Real coach such as Arsenal's Arsene Wenger, Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez, Fabio Capello of Juventus and AC Milan's Carlo Ancelotti have all distanced themselves from the job in recent weeks.

The Spanish media, however, insist that despite his recent contract extension with Milan, Ancelotti remains the favourite to take charge.

Sports daily AS said on Saturday that Real would announce Ancelotti's appointment after next month's Italian general elections and when Milan finish their Champions League campaign.