Ramos to replace Schuster at Real Madrid

Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster has been sacked and will be replaced by former Sevilla and Tottenham Hotspur manager Juande Ramos, Spanish media reported on Tuesday.

Real had no immediate comment on the reports but said sporting director Predrag Mijatovic would hold a news conference at 1330 GMT at the Bernabeu. Media, including sports newspapers Marca and As, said Ramos would be presented there.

The papers, who did not identify the source of their information, said Mijatovic had proposed to Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon that Ramos replace Schuster, who led the club to the Primera Liga title last season.

The German was seen leaving the Bernabeu earlier on Tuesday.

Real slipped to fifth place in the league after Sunday’s 4-3 home defeat to Sevilla, nine points behind arch rivals Barcelona who they play on Saturday at the Nou Camp.

They face Zenit St Petersburg at home in the Champions League on Wednesday having already qualified for the knockout phase.

Schuster’s side have been plagued by injuries and suspensions and he said after the Sevilla defeat that it would be impossible to win at Barcelona at the moment.

“They are devastating. I think it is their year,” he said. “We will try to put on a good show. We won’t be able to do more than that.”

Schuster’s comments were variously interpreted either as mind games ahead of the clash or an effort to motivate his players but they did nothing to ease the pressure on him, Calderon and Mijatovic.

Ramos was sacked as manager of Tottenham in October and replaced by Harry Redknapp after the Premier League side suffered their worst ever start to a league season, without a win in their first eight matches.

Spurs had won only six matches out of 26 in all competitions since the Spaniard led them to the League Cup in February.

Ramos, whose personal website said he had already moved to Madrid from London, took over from Joaquin Caparros at Sevilla in 2005 and won five trophies in two years including back-to-back UEFA Cups.

“Juande Ramos is now living in Madrid after spending the last 12 months coaching in the Premier League in England,” said his website (www.juanderamos.com).

“The coach returns to Spain with the aim of enjoying football from a different perspective and hopes to begin an exciting new project soon.”