Sacchi to part with Madrid

Real Madrid CF sporting director Arrigo Sacchi is to leave the club at the end of the year for personal reasons.

'Very happy'
Sacchi had actually informed the club of his intentions to leave before the league match against FC Barcelona on 19 November. Madrid said: "Sacchi said he was very happy at Real Madrid and that is why he wanted to complete a year in his post. But family considerations persuaded him to make this decision."

Year in post
The 59-year-old Italian moved to the Santiago Bernabéu on 21 December last year following the departure of Jorge Valdano. His role was to role support then-coach Mariano García Remón, working under the club's vice-president Emilio Butragueño with the aim of making the club "more professional".

López Caro in charge
It is a period of transition for Madrid with García Remón's successor Vanderlei Luxemburgo having left the club last Sunday. The outgoing Brazilian has been temporarily replaced by reserve-team coach Juan Ramón López Caro, who will lead the team at Olympiacos CFP this evening.

Milan successes
Sacchi's greatest successes in football came as coach of Milan with whom he won the Scudetto in 1987/88 and then twice captured the European Champion Clubs' Cup, in successive seasons in 1988/89 and 1989/90. He was also in charge of Italy at the 1994 FIFA World Cup, steering them to the final in the United States.