The main news in the two Madrid-based sports papers today is the return of Fernando Hierro to the club as Carlo Ancelotti’s assistant manager. Los Blancos had been looking for a new right-hand man for the Italian after Zinedine left his role last month to take charge of Real Madrid Castilla. Both Marca and AS dedicate plenty of column inches to Hierro and look back at his playing career in which he won five titles and three European Cups with the club.
Elsewhere, there were be a Real Madrid player winning the World Cup on Sunday night. Either Sami Khedira or Angel di Maria will lift the trophy at the Maracana in Brazil. Whoever wins will join an exclusive list of nine players to have won the European Cup and World Cup in the same season. Seven of those on the list are German players. In 1974, Bayern Munich lifted the European Cup after defeating Atletico de Madrid. Schwarzenbeck, Kapellman, Maier, Muller, Beckenbauer, Breitner and Hoeness went on to lift the World Cup weeks later.
Real Madrid have had two players to achieve the same feat. Having won the European Cup in 1998, Christian Karembeu was part of the France team that lifted the World Cup on home soil. Four years later, Roberto Carlos won the Champions League before being part of the Brazil side that saw off Germany in the World Cup final.
It’s been a good few days for Cristiano Ronaldo, who has picked up more personal awards. The Portugal captain has been named as the winner of the Trofeo di Stefano by Marca as the best player in La Liga last season – the third year in a row he has won the award. A panel of experts on ESPN has also named him alongside Rafa Nadal as the best athlete in the world.
Finally, Portuguese paper O Jogo says Benfica are keen to wrap up the loan signing of Real Madrid’s Brazilian midfielder Casemiro.
#Rest in Peace ALFREDO DI STEFANO.
Welcome Hierro its going to be a pleasure to have him in our club