Mourinho’s appointment marks change in Real strategy

Mourinho, 47, will succeed Manuel Pellegrini at the Bernabéu

Real Madrid will finally unveil Josè Mourinho as their new manager on Monday.

The news comes after the Primera División club agreed a compensation package believed to be worth in the region of €8 million with treble winners Internazionale.

But does Mourinho’s appointment signal a change in philosophy for Real Madrid President Florentino Pèrez?

The Portuguese manager has moved from the San Siro to the Bernabéu on his own terms and with assurances of full control over transfer policies at the Spanish club.

Pèrez had previously sought to sign global superstars while appointing a manager who was easily disposable and likely to welt under the pressure of a caustic Madrid hierarchy.

Manuel Pellegrini, Mourinho’s predecessor, had complained players were sold without his consent. Mourinho will not allow such constraints over his management and is unafraid to take a hard stance as proven during his spell at Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho, 47, will become Real’s 11th manager in seven years, pointing to a club devoid of consistency and sustained success—Los Blancos have just two trophies to show for this period.

Pèrez insists the ‘special one’ is the coach to reverse the fortunes of the club and challenge the supremacy of Bacelona. With funds at his disposal and a decorated squad it is difficult to see Mourinho failing to mount a serious title pursuit.

Whether the Portuguese manager will be afforded time to implement his playing style is a matter open to debate with the dismissals of Pelligrini and Bernd Scheuster pointing to an impatient board of directors.

Pèrez famously craves chic football which attains results and ultimately, accolades. The former Chelsea and Inter manager deploys a tactic which breeds victories regardless of the manner in which they are manufactured.

Of course history has proven his philosophy as effective but he may not bring the beautiful football that Pèrez desires. For now the Real Madrid president appears content to forgo his Galácticos transfer policy and entrust his enigmatic manager to build a ruthless team starting with reinforcements to a leaky defence.

Yet it must be pointed out Real Madrid will prove a more difficult task. At Chelsea, Mourinho’s task was aided by Roman Abramovich’s millions as he built a title winning team at a club which had endured a sustained trophy drought. At Inter, he walked into a club that were current title holders and benefiting from a period of inertia in Serie A.

How long this marriage between the world’s most glamorous club and the ‘special one’ will last depends on how soon Mourinho delivers success. Thus far the Portuguese manager has delivered on his promises of glory.