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Championship outfit Derby County have confirmed the appointment of Paul Clement as their new manager after his left his role as assistant manager at Real Madrid.

The Englishman was Carlo Ancelotti’s right hand man during their two-year stay in the Spanish capital and he played an important role as the club won the Copa del Rey and Champions League in their first season.

The 43-year-old, who worked alongside Ancelotti at Chelsea and PSG previously, has made no secret of his desire to step up and become a manager one day – and he replaces ex-England manager Steve McClaren with the task of taking the Rams back up to the Premier League.

Speaking about is appointment, Clement said: “I’m incredibly excited to be joining Derby County as Head Coach and I am looking forward to meeting the players and getting started. This is a massive club with fantastic facilities and a superb fan base who deserve success. Having spoken with Sam Rush and the owners I firmly believe we share the same desires and ambitions and that is to once again make Derby County a Premier League club.”

A statement from Derby’s president on the club’s website said: “Paul Clement is one of the most in-demand coaches in world football and I am delighted that he has agreed to join Derby County as our new Head Coach.

“He is hugely respected, has exceptional relationships throughout football and tremendous coaching experience at some of the very best clubs in Europe.”
Read more at http://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/article/derby-county-appoint-paul-clement-as-new-head-coach-2476603.aspx#LYmmbqhsJPeP5Ufm.99

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Real Madrid could make a move for Arsenal star Laurent Koscielny this summer, according to reports.

The Daily Express says Los Blancos may make a move when they hire Rafa Benitez as the new boss – with the Spaniard a keen admirer of the French centre back.

Sergio Ramos and Pepe are the current first choice pairing at the Santiago Bernabeu but the latter of those two is into his 30’s now and Madrid need to start thinking about a replacement. They already have young French defender Raphael Varane on their books, although his has been linked with a move away in search of regular first team football.

Koscielny joined the Gunners in 2010 from Lorient and has established himself as one of the top defenders in Europe over the past couple of seasons. He has featured more than 200 times in the Premier League and picked up a winners medal in the FA Cup on Saturday as Arsene Wenger’s side defeated Aston Villa 4-0.

The 29-year-old has a long-term deal at the Emirates Stadium and is understood to be happy where he is, and Madrid would have to offer a substantial fee for his services if they want to take him to the Spanish capital this summer.

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Rafa Benitez has arrived in Madrid to thrash out the final terms of his contract before being announced at the new manager of Real Madrid.

The Madrid-born boss, who started his career as a youth team coach at Los Blancos, left Seria A side Napoli after the final games of the season on Sunday. He had been in charge of the side for two years and won the Coppa Italia in his first year in charge.

On Monday morning, Bentinez took a private jet, laid on by Los Blancos, to the Spanish capital, where he told gathered reporters he was excited by what lies ahead.

“I am enthusiastic and happy. Although there are things that still need to be discussed,” Benitez stated.

The 55-year-old is expected to pen a two-year deal worth four million euros a year at the Santiago Bernabeu and will likely be presented to fans and journalists at an official presentation on Wednesday.

Benitez has enjoyed a stellar career as a manager and has won trophies wherever he has gone. He secured the La Liga title with Valencia, before moving to Liverpool where he famously won the Champions League in 2005, his side coming from 3-0 at half time. He has also won trophies at Chelsea and Napoli.

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Real Madrid defender Marcelo has been ruled out of the Copa America this summer and will not feature for Brazil.

The left-back had forced his way back into Brazil’s squad after initially being one of the high-profile casualties following last summer’s disastrous World Cup showing.

The 27-year-old was selected for the tournament but having been assessed by national team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar, has been ruled out due to a back injury. He has been replaced by Geferson, who will act as cover for regular left-back Felipe Luis.

Lasmar gave an interview to Globo Esporte confirming the injury, saying: “We were told he was injured jumping and had been suffering from a severe pain in his lower back. He did some tests and was due to start start training with us on Monday. He had roughly three weeks of training, but now he can’t walk. There was no other solution [than him pulling out].”

Marcelo was the number one left back at Los Blancos under Carlo Ancelotti this season, featuring 53 times and scoring four goals along the way. He joined the club in 2007 and has made 320 appearances in all. He’s picked up various medals in his time at the club, including the Champions League, La Liga, Copa del Rey, European Super Cup and World Club Cup.

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Real Madrid’s vice president Eduardo Fernandez de Blas has let slip one of this year’s worst kept secrets – that Rafa Benitez will become the club’s new coach next week.

The Madrid-born boss has been in charge of Seria A side Napoli for the last couple of years but announced last week that he will not be taking up the option to extend his stay at the club.

It follows increasing speculation in recent weeks that he will be appointed to the top job at the Santiago Bernabeu after Carlo Ancelotti was fired for the team’s failure to lift La Liga or the Champions League.

Speaking at a club event on Saturday, Fernandez de Blas said Real had enjoying having  the best managers in the world in Mourinho and Ancelotti – and now they’ll have the best in Rafa Benitez.

“I’ll tell you one thing. Just one thing. Carlo Ancelotti is a real phenomenon. We give our thanks to him,” the vice president said.

He went on to add: “Until three days ago, he was the best coach in the world, as was Jose Mourinho two years ago, and so will Rafa Benitez as of next week.”

Benitez started his coaching career 20 years ago as a youth coach in the Real Madrid Castillas set up.

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Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas has vowed to stay and fight for his place when Rafa Benitez takes over as boss later this week.

The Costa Rican joined Los Blancos from Levante last summer but has found his first team chances limited and has had to get used to playing second fiddle to Iker Casillas so far in his career as a Real player.

His lack of regular action, along with the strong suggestions that Los Blancos will sign David de Gea this summer, have prompted reports he could leave the Santiago Bernabeu. Premier League side Liverpool are believed to be on the search for an upgrade on current first choice, Simon Mignolet, and have identified Navas as a possible solution.

But speaking to AS, Navas said he is willing to stay and fight for his place and will give 100% to Rafa Benitez – if he is indeed the man to take over from Carlo Ancelotti.

It wasn’t a completely negative year. I didn’t play as much as I wanted to, but I was able to train with the best [players in the world],” Navas said.

He added: “I always try to do my best. In my first season at Levante, the same thing happened as I hardly played, but then they changed their coach and I had a great [second] season. [Rafa] Benitez is a great coach and I’ll be at his disposal if he arrives.”

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Former Real Madrid boss Bernd Schuster has said the sacking of Carlo Ancelotti wasn’t necessary as the club is in a good position.

The Italian was fired last week and looks set to be replaced by Madrid-born Rafa Benitez. His sacking comes just 12 months after he lead the side to the Champions League – a trophy that had evaded them for 12 years before his arrival.

Speaking in an interview with Spanish sports daily Marca, Schuster said that despite the club not winning any silverware this season, it wasn’t a disaster.

“What did I think of Ancelotti’s dismissal? I didn’t expect it. It wasn’t necessary because it wasn’t an extreme situation at the club. As a coach, I look at it slightly differently. I know, as I’ve been on that bench myself, that at Madrid it’s all about results. But when you look at it, we’re talking about two points in La Liga – a draw. And in the Champions League, one goal away from reaching the final,” he said.

When asked about the potential appointment of Rafa Benitez, the German said the ex-Liverpool boss has had an excellent record wherever he’s gone.

“Nobody can argue about Rafa. He’s had an excellent career as a manager and done well in various countries. He did a great job at Liverpool, a big team that had gone a while without winning anything,” he commented.

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Iker Casillas could be set to play a game of cat and mouse with Real Madrid this summer as he would give up a 14 million euro pay off from the club if he requests a move.

Speculation has been mounting in recent weeks that the 34-year-old club captain could leave the Santiago Bernabeu after 17 years as Los Blancos attempt to sign David de Gea from Manchester United as his replacement.

But according to a number of reports in the press, including on Goal.com, Casillas does not want to hand in a transfer request as he would give up the huge figure. Equally, should the club decide to list Casillas on the transfer market, they would then automatically owe him the pay off – so it could be a summer of cat and mouse waiting to see who makes the first move.

Casillas, who has captained the club to success in the Champions League, La Liga, the Copa del Rey, Spanish Super Copa, European Super Cup and World Club Cup, has been jeered by some sections of the crowd this year.

In an interview earlier this week, the shot stopper said he had been upset at first, but used it at motivation to prove his critics wrong.

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Real Madrid legend Raul says Carlo Ancelotti did a great job in his two seasons at the club and deserves plenty of praise.

The Italian was sacked on Monday after failing to lead the team to success in either La Liga or the Champions League, but nevertheless it was a brutal end to the reign of the man who finally ended the club’s 12-year wait for La Decima.

As well as winning the Champions League, the former AC Milan, Chelsea and PSG boss also won the Copa del Rey, European Super Cup and World Club Cup in his time in charge.

Speaking about the managerial changes at Los Blancos, Raul, who now plays for the New York Cosmos, said: “I think that he should be thanked for the great work he’s done. He brought the Champions League back to Madrid after so long.”

He then went on to talk about the decision that faces the club directors to take the club forward now.

“The club now has to make the best decision about who to bring in to win more titles for the club. Every time the season finishes and no titles have been won it’s always difficult with changes of coach and players, but that’s normal at a club as big as Real Madrid,” Raul commented.

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Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has said Rafa Benitez has long dreamed of managing Real Madrid one day.

That dream will come true this week, when he is expected to be announced as the successor to Carlo Ancelotti at the Santiago Bernabeu. Reaction to Benitez’ arrival in the Spanish capital has been mixed, with some Madrid fans wanting a coach who plays more attacking football.

But writing in his column for the Daily Mail, Carragher defended his former boss at Anfield and says he doesn’t always get the recognition he deserves.

“A life’s ambition has been realised for Rafa Benitez, who will become Real Madrid’s next manager. When he started out his career in management, this was the job he always dreamed of getting and I know how much it means to him because he used to come up to me every couple of months at Melwood and say ‘Madrid have made me an offer’,” the ex-England defender wrote.

He added: “There has been surprise in some quarters that Madrid have turned to Benitez but, really, he should be thought of more highly within the game, considering his impressive c.v. Never mind what he did for Valencia and Liverpool, he’s won trophies for Inter Milan, Chelsea and Napoli too.”

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