REAL MADRID COULD INTERVENE IN IRURETA RENEWAL

6th May 2004 -- It might be that many supporters of Deportivo won’t be
able to tell who was the coach of the team before Javier Irureta arrived
in the summer of 1998. It was second coach Jose Manuel Corral, who took
over from Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Silva during the season 1997/1998.
But since then Deportivo have been led by Irureta, who came from rivals
Celta de Vigo. However, this summer might see the Basque coach ending up
at Real Madrid or city rivals Atletico.

The unrest at the biggest club from the Spanish capital is evident. Under
president Florentio Perez their policy was only to use “Zidanes and
Pavones”, meaning that players coming to the club should be top quality
players or coming from the youth system. Portuguese coach Carlos Queiros
was hired to occupy the bench and to entertain the star players during
weekdays, as players like Roberto Carlos, Figo, Beckham, Zidane, Raul and
Ronaldo cannot be taught anything new anymore. But it has appeared that it
takes more to form a team than just to line-up eleven excellent players.

Until some months ago the defects of Real Madrid were pretty well hidden
by the goals of Ronaldo and some ‘lucky’ decisions by the referees at
crucial moments. It only seemed to strengthen the idea at Real Madrid that
they were doing well and that winning prizes was only moments away. But
this approach collapsed as relegation threatened Zaragoza won the Copa
final while Monaco showed Madrid a European lesson of determination. As
the team is falling down in the Liga like a groggy boxer, the policy of
Madrid will be changed.

The first one to go is Carlos Queiros. The former assistant of Alex
Ferguson at Manchester United has proved to be incapable of handling the
superstars at Real Madrid and it’s embarrassing to see his behaviour
during matches. Already several weeks ago Jorge Valdano and Florentino
Perez have decided to change their way of handling and are seriously
looking for new defensive players. At the same time they want a new coach,
one with authority and knowledge of Spanish football. Good positioned is
Deportivo coach Javier Irureta.

In 1998 the coach of Deportivo signed a contract at the Galician club of
two years, which was extended after every season with one more year. In
2000 this was no problem at all and the parties soon reached an agreement.
In 2001 the Basque coach rejected an interest of Valencia and again
renewed his contract. In 2002 he asked new signings and Lendoiro promised
to deliver, after which Irureta signed for another year and got (among
others) Jorge Andrade and Albert Luque.

However, last season the situation was more complicated as only on 8 July
2003 a new extension was signed. Priority for Lendoiro was getting a new
television agreement, as recognized by Irureta. The coach asked Lendoiro
to keep the squad intact, but saw Makaay being sold to Bayern Munich. Also,
the annual salary of Irureta was lowered because of the economic difficulties
in Spanish football.

The current campaign has convinced president Lendoiro once again that
Irureta and Deportivo are made for each other, and a new contract already
has been waiting for weeks. Irureta has always been talking about the
deberes, things that must be done, before he wants to continue at the club.
Now, with a place among the first four in the Liga assured and a successful
European campaign, the time is right to start talking again.

Irureta has won the Liga with the team in 2000 and finished second in 2001
and 2002. In 2003 the team finished third and now the destiny seems to be
the fourth place. Only in his first season at the club, 1998/1999, the club
finished outside the first four places by ending up being sixth. Furthermore,
Irureta has won the Copa del Rey in 2002 and the Supercopa in 2000 and 2002.
Besides, Deportivo will start their fifth consecutive Champions League
campaign in August of which the last one saw the team being eliminated in
the Semi-Finals. In two other tournaments he took the team to the Quarter
Finals.

Irureta’s agent, Miguel Santos, already is in La Coruna to possibly
discuss a new contract with either Lendoiro or Irureta or even to conclude
a new agreement. Irureta always has put his trust in Santos for doing
business and his agent and Lendoiro already have spoken each other on
three occasions. Santos commented that “because of respect to the club,
which always has treated us very well, our priority remains to talk with
Deportivo. Santos commented about the interest of Real Madrid, and
Atletico de Madrid, in hiring Irureta that “I have nothing to say about
it. Neither Irureta nor I want to speculate about hypothetical remarks.
Things are only important when they become a reality”. So, it’s up to
the clubs from the capital to make an offer.