Real Madrid Fire Director Jorge Valdano, More Power To Jose Mourinho

“We have decided to end the contractual relationship with Jorge Valdano,” said Real president Florentino Perez. “The experience of this just completed season demonstrated a need for more autonomy, including within the coaching unit.”

Mourinho and Valdano had not had a good working relationship for months. The greatest point of contention went back to the January transfer window when Mourinho wanted to bring in another striker to replace the injured Gonzalo Higuain, but was not able to.

“Mourinho demanded an autonomy on the sporting side like that which works with English clubs. I think for the sake of the institution that this is a reorganisation that has to be done,” Perez said. “We signed the best coach in the world, so we want to be sure that even when he leaves one day and we sign another of the world’s best, the structure is there.”

It appears as if Mourinho is now in complete control of the football side of the team. The players that come in will be his and those who leave the club will also do so at his discretion. It is a similar set up to the one that Mourinho worked with at his previous jobs, all of which he won the league at.

The firing of Valdano also ends what was clearly a contentious relationship between the Argentine and Mourinho. In a press conference after the firing, Valdano admitted that he and Mourinho had not spoken for “a long time.”

“I am not the one who turned Real Madrid into a battlefield,” said Valndao. “All my efforts this season were directed toward restraint. It has been a long time since I have spoken personally to Mourinho. We greet each other politely, but he sought to deal with people other than me. My responsibilities with the first team were reduced. I did not feel comfortable in that situation.”

Mourinho had a bit of success in his first season at the club, winning Real’s first Copa Del Rey in 18 years, but expectations at the Bernabeu are higher. Barcelona are one of the world’s top teams and could win the UEFA Champions League on Saturday. As Real’s biggest rival, it is imperative that Mourinho top the Catalans in both the league and Champions League going forward.

There is reason to believe that Mourinho can get the job started next season. He won the Portuguese Primera Liga for the first time with Porto in his second year at the club. At Chelsea he won his second English Premier League title in his second season there and in his second season with Internazionale, he won the treble. Real Madrid will hope he can have similar second year success next season.