Ramos replaces Schuster as Real Madrid coach

Real Madrid appointed their 11th coach in 10 years yesterday when former Sevilla and Tottenham Hotspur manager Juande Ramos replaced Bernd Schuster.

Spaniard Ramos, 54, who was sacked as Tottenham coach in October after the English side's worst start to a Premier League season, agreed a contract through June 2009 with an option for an extension, sporting director Predrag Mijatovic said.

Mijatovic told a news conference at the Bernabeu stadium that he had met Schuster earlier in the day and the pair had agreed the German's contract with the Primera Liga champions should be terminated.

Former Real player Schuster took over from Italian Fabio Capello in June 2007 and helped them to a second straight title.

However, this season his side have slipped nine points behind arch-rivals Barcelona.

Ramos will take immediate charge of the side, who have a home Champions League tie against Zenit St Petersburg today and travel to play Barcelona at the Nou Camp on Saturday for "El Clasico".

They have already qualified for the knockout stages of Europe's top club competition but are fifth in the league after 14 matches. They lost 4-3 to Sevilla at home on Sunday.

Speaking at the news conference with Mijatovic, Ramos said it had been impossible for him to reject Real's offer.

"This is the dream of all coaches," he said. "Real Madrid have the quality to win in any stadium in the world and they must go into every match thinking of victory."

Real have been plagued by injuries and suspensions this season and Schuster said after the Sevilla defeat that it would be impossible to win at Barcelona at the moment.

"They are devastating. I think it is their year," he said. "We will try to put on a good show. We won't be able to do more than that."

Schuster's comments were variously interpreted either as mind games ahead of the clash or an effort to motivate his players but they did nothing to ease the pressure on president Ramon Calderon, Mijatovic and himself.

Real Madrid coaches over past ten years

Guus Hiddink - 1998-1999
John Toshack - 1999
Vicente Del Bosque - 1999-2003
Carlos Queiroz - 2003-2004
Jose A. Camacho - 2004
Mariano G. Remon - 2004
Vanderlei Luxemburgo - 2004-2005
Juan R. Lopez Caro - 2005-2006
Fabio Capello - 2006-2007
Bernd Schuster - 2007-2008
Juande Ramos - 2008