Madrid turn to familiar Floro

Former Real Madrid CF coach Benito Floro has replaced Arrigo Sacchi as sporting director at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Sacchi departure
Italian veteran Sacchi announced he was leaving the club before the league match against FC Barcelona on 19 November, citing family considerations. The decision came in the midst of a fractious spell at Madrid, which also saw reserve-team coach Juan Ramón López Caro replace Vanderlei Luxemburgo at the helm, and the club hope the appointment of Floro will prove a watershed.

Coaching spell
It will be the 53-year-old's second spell at the Santiago Bernabéu after a brief tenure as coach between 1992 and 1993. With a reputation garnered by strong performances with then Segunda División outfit Albacete Balompié, Floro led Madrid to second in the league before triumphing in the Copa del Rey final. It was not enough to secure his job, however, and he was sacked the following season.

Spanish return
Spells at Real Sporting de Gijón, J-League outfit Vissel Kobe and CF Monterrey followed before he returned to his homeland in 2002 to take charge at and Villarreal CF. He started last season at RCD Mallorca, but was sacked four months later because of the team's bad results.