Article
09 December 2008
Alberto Navarro / Translation by Matthew Goltz
Juande Ramos has taken over the helm at Real Madrod for the next six months according to Ángel Arroyo, Director General to the President's Office and Board Spokesman.
Real Madrid coach Juande Ramos has enamored the world with his constant devotion to the game, his painstaking analysis of the sport and his humilty. Juande has an impressive CV having coached his way through the ranks to reached European powerhouses. Velocity in each and every transition and constant midfield pressure best epitomize his teams.
He isn't the first coach to base his coaching know-how on a player's past. Ramos never enjoyed much success as a footballer. His willpower and elegance with the ball at his feet were cut short after suffering a knee injury.
Juande Ramos began his coaching career almost 20 years ago (1990) in the Elche acacdemy. Three years later he joined Second Division B side Alcoyano before taking over the reigns at Levante, who were promoted to Second Division under his tutelage.
Ramos left Levante to coach Barcelona B followed by Lleida and Rayo Vallecano, the latter of whom he coached to Spain's top flight after defeating Extremadura and then to a quarterfinal appearance in the UEFA Cup.
In 2001/02 Ramos was named head coach of recently-promoted Real Betis, who qualified for the UEFA Cup that same season. Stints with Espanyol and Malaga preceeded his tenure with Sevilla, where he won two UEFA Cups, one European Super Cup, one Copa del Rey and a Spanish Super Cup.
Juande then inherited a Tottenham Hotspur side in the midst of one of the club's most difficult moments in history. He was forced to adjust to a completely different style of football than that played in Spain; a difficult task which he passed with flying colors by leading the team to the 2007/08 Carling Cup. He was sacked after eight matches of the 2008/09 season. Ramos has turned the page and begins a new chapter at Real Madrid.
Honours:
- Two promotions to Primera Divsion: Logroñés (1995/96), Rayo Vallecano (1998/99)
- UEFA Cup: Sevilla (2005/06, 2006/07)
- European Super Cup: Sevilla (2006)
- Carling Cup: Tottenham (2008)
- Copa del Rey: Sevilla (2006/07)
- Spanish Super Cup: Sevilla (2007)
Individual recognitions:
- Third best coach in the world in 2006 and 2007 according to IFFHS.
- Coach of the Year in 2006 according to the Andalusian Sportswriters Association.
- Coach of the Year in 2006/07 according to the magazine DON BALON and newspaper MARCA. MARCA.