Real go for the juggler

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez and sports director Jorge Valdano knew that last Sunday’s 3-1 win over Athletic Bilbao, a success which won them La Liga, would be Vicente del Bosque’s last game as coach. What they did not know was how clearly events after the final whistle would indicate their decision.

As the celebrations at the Bernabeu began, the pitch flooded with journalists desperate for reaction from the Real players. Club captain Fernando Hierro, annoyed that the press have criticised him all season, ordered them to skip the second lap of honour and boycott the post-match interviews.

Once in the dressing-room, Valdano was furious and told Hierro to get back out there. He refused, swore and according to some reports, slapped Valdano in the face. The players did not re-emerge on to the pitch.

A second row developed in the evening between Perez and another captain, Raul. The city council had refused to allow the team to celebrate in the Cibeles fountain - mainly because last year the goddess’ statue suffered an arm broken off - and in return, Raul wanted to boycott the civic reception arranged for Monday afternoon.

Perez demanded everyone attend, and Raul threatened to leave the club: he even phoned a journalist to tell him that he was interested in moving to Manchester United. Negotiations went on past 7.30am, until Perez got his way: all the players went to the reception, apart from Steve McManaman, pictured, and Ronaldo, who could not be contacted, and were subsequently fined. Harsh!

Both rows are a perfect example of how the players are used to holding power at Real, and how Valdano and Perez are desperate to stamp it out. In the week before the Bilbao match, the players publicly urged Perez to extend Del Bosque’s contract. But the day after the game, in a brutal assertion of power, Real fired Hierro and Del Bosque: the coach’s popularity with his players probably cost him.

Valdano claimed that the gap between players and management had grown too wide. "We weren’t always in the same boat. Perhaps, from now on, the messages will get down more clearly to the squad."

The appointment of Carlos Queiroz as coach will certainly keep the players in check. He is a no-nonsense disciplinarian, who will not be as forgiving as Del Bosque.

Valdano pushed the club’s two press officers aside to chair Queiroz’s initial press conference - another example of Real’s top brass trying to reclaim control throughout the club - and was fortunate that he did not hear one seasoned Spanish columnist mutter to his neighbour: "Es nada mas que la puta de Jorge."("Queiroz is Valdano’s bitch.")

Whether Queiroz would appreciate the observation is another matter. Though the 50-year-old is undoubtedly a tactical expert, he has struggled as a head coach. Worryingly for the Real powerbrokers, his main problems have stemmed from the boardroom above him, and not the players below. His story, though, comes too late to be a cautionary tale.

As a goalkeeper who did not play professionally, Queiroz is known in Portugal as ‘The Father’, as he coached the Portuguese under-20s to the 1989 and ’91 world championships. That side, the ‘Golden Generation’ team, included Rui Costa, Fernando Couto, Joao Pinto, Jorge Costa, Abel Xavier and one Luis Figo.

He was appointed Portugal coach after that, but resigned amid intrigue after serving under three different chairmen in as many years. The only other constant during his reign was general-secretary Antonio Malva, who clashed regularly with Queiroz as he opposed reform to the national federation set-up.

Queiroz failed to reach the 1994 World Cup finals, and handed in his notice.

Federation president at the time was Victor Vasques, who said: "I am sorry that he’s leaving, but he never understood the changes he wanted us to apply had to be applied over a long period of time. Queiroz was impatient, and that is why the problems that resulted in his leaving occurred."

Queiroz then took his first club role, and replaced Bobby Robson as Sporting Lisbon coach. Again, he suffered when football and politics mixed. Club director Paulo Abreu had left, and former minister of culture Santana Lopes was the new chairman. Queiroz was desperate for full authority at the club, but had to report to Lopes before making any decision.

Sound familiar, Real fans?

Sporting won a Portuguese Cup final, but lost the league on the last day to Benfica. Frustration with the internal structure forced Queiroz to resign again, and Lopes explained: "Carlos is leaving out of his own will, only because the club’s football structure is not ready to accommodate his demands."

He then embarked on a world coaching tour, taking charge of New York MetroStars in the US, Nagoya Grampus-8 in Japan, and the United Arab Emirates. He had a short spell in between as USA national team co- ordinator, but a high-ranking US Soccer official admitted: "For the many, many dollars we paid him, it was a waste. Any knowledgeable person in the US could have spelled out the challenges and directions we needed to go. But his sharp football mind was obvious."

US keeper Tony Meola added: "The one thing I remember Carlos told me was that if you have to ask for respect, then you’ll never get respect."

In August 2000, he was named South Africa coach, and problems with his bosses reached new heights. Two months before leading the team to the African Nations Cup in February 2002, he was criticised by SA general manager Zola Dunywa. "That man is only interested in his big salary," Dunywa moaned. "He doesn’t give any regard to the players who live in South Africa. What irritates me the most about him is that he imposed himself as the law, and doesn’t listen to anyone else."

He then fell out with the players, who refused to obey his orders, and with the SAFA because they would not back him. His assistant was former coach Trott Moloto, who was there to keep an eye on Queiroz on behalf of the SAFA. The relationship hit rock-bottom at the African Nations Cup when Queiroz was accused of favouring white players in the team. No surprise when he quit again.

Queiroz will face more controversy sooner rather than later at the Bernabeu, as his first job as Real boss will be to appoint a captain to replace Hierro. Raul will take the armband, but Real maintain three captains, a role of honour normally based on seniority - though being a local boy helps.

Roberto Carlos is the most likely to step in. But if the third captain, Guti, leaves, then Queiroz has a problem: does he appoint goalkeeper Iker Casillas, Madrid-born and a definite starter? Or does he go for Luis Figo, his former ally and a potential rival to David Beckham? Will the decision even be his to make?

It is most unlikely that Queiroz will do everything that he is told by Valdano, whose recent actions have shown that he has a ruthless streak that his intellect cannot disguise. Based on the record of the two men, the biggest surprise will be if Queiroz is still at the Bernabeu when his deal expires in the summer of 2005.