Real sack Fabio Capello

“We don’t think Fabio Capello is the right person to lead Real Madrid into the future given what we want this club to achieve.”

With that statement Real Madrid sporting director Predrag Mijatovic had me wondering exactly what Real Madrid want to achieve. After winning one consecutive La Liga title, it appears the club is tired of winning and want to return to their mediocrity of the past several years. Real have a history of showing little hesitance to fire what one would term “successful” managers. Real’s last title victory in 2003 was followed up with the sacking of manager Vicente del Bosque while German Jupp Heynckes was sacked after guiding Real to the Champions League title in 1998. The decision to sack Capello continues the cycle of instability at the club, which has turned over seven coaches in four years and a full squad of players, which has burned through tens of millions in transfer fees.

To be fair, I can see one aspect of Capello’s management style that does not sit well with the Madrid club. Capello tends toward a highly-organized and structured team game rather than a wide open attacking style of play. The team were roundly criticized by fans and the media for a conservative style. Overall, I think it is a mistake to not retain a successful coach and try to build some stability at the club. Capello was brought in last July and charged with the task of reining in the players, clearing out the dead wood and getting the club back to winning ways. I feel he’s met all those goals and should have been offered a contract extension. I also rate him as one of the very top managers around and I doubt he will have troubles finding another club for the upcoming season.

Capello, who joined Real last summer from Juventus on a three-year contract, had also won the Spanish league title with Real in 1996-97. Getafe coach Bernd Schuster, a former player at Real, is the favourite to replace him.