After an incredible 11-year spell with Spanish giants Real Madrid as one of the Galacticos, club legend Roberto Carlos has outlined his intentions of eventually becoming manager at the Bernabeu.
This former Brazil international and World Cup winner, who enjoyed an illustrious career with Los Blancos between 1996 and 2007, is currently in charge of Indian side Delhi Dynamos, but admitted his desire to return to his old club as boss.
The 42-year-old has also managed two different sides in Turkey during his short coaching career so far, but declared that he is working towards taking charge at the Bernabeu in the near future.
“I’m working and learning here in order to come back as Real Madrid boss or head coach with Brazil, where I played for 17 years,” said Carlos. “I think the doors to both are open to me. If the time ever comes for me to return to Real Madrid, I’ll do it gladly.”
Following the former Real full back comments, here are five former Madrid players that then took the reins at the Bernabeu in their career, a path which Carlos will look to follow in the coming seasons.
Regarded for his managerial success with the likes of Valencia, Liverpool and Napoli, Bentiez was once a player within Madrid’s ranks himself, featuring for their reserve side Real Madrid Castilla from 1974 to 1981.
Benitez’s links to Real run deep, having also been assistant boss to the reserve set-up for two campaigns in the 1990s, eventually landing the main job exactly 20 years after leaving that maiden coaching role.
Bernd Schuster
Former West Germany international Schuster, who lifted the European Championship with his country in 1980, enjoyed a successful career as both a player and manager at the Bernabeu, clinching plenty of silverware.
This illustrious German is one of very few stars to have played for all of Barcelona, Real and Atletico Madrid, having controversially swapped the Nou Camp for the Bernabeu in 1988, going on to lift two La Liga crowns, a Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup.
Experienced 64-year-old Del Bosque has most recently led the Spanish national to success at Euro 2008 and also lifted the 2010 World Cup, but his connections with Real run deep into the 1960s.
The current Spain coach starred for Madrid during a trophy-laden 16 years at the Bernabeu, winning an outstanding five La Liga titles, four Copa del Rey crowns and played in a European Cup final against Liverpool.
Del Bosque then enjoyed years of success as reserve team manager, assistant and caretaker coach, then went on to oversee the club’s dominance during the turn of the millennium. In total, the Spaniard earned a double of league titles, two Champions League trophies and a UEFA Super Cup as Madrid manager.
Alfredo Di Stefano
Regarded as the catalyst of Madrid’s foundation success during the 1950s and 1960s as the club’s star player, Di Stefano also eventually took charge as boss during two different stints in the 1980s and most recently from 1990 to 1991.
This legendary Argentine helped Madrid to capture a sensational five European crowns, building the platform of success which the club have continued to build upon to this day, as well as eight league trophies. The Bernabeu hero was unable to emulate such success a manager though, winning just the 1990 Super Cup during a total of three years in charge.
Jorge Valdano
Another Argentine on our list, this time in the form of the man nicknamed ‘The Philosopher of Football’. A World Cup winner alongside Diego Maradona in Mexico during 1986, Valdano is also Madrid legend, having helped them to secure two La Liga titles, a Copa del Rey triumph and back-to-back UEFA Cup wins in 1985 and 1986.
As a coach at the Bernabeu, Valdano won the 1995 La Liga title, but he also took up a director role within the set-up as recently as 2009, but was dismissed after his relationship with the then-coaching staff, which included Jose Mourinho, deteriorated.
