Poch can’t snub lure of Bernabeu says Real legend
Two-time Real Madrid coach Leo Beenhakker has urged Mauricio Pochettino to forget about politics – and grab the Bernabeu hot-seat.
Spurs boss Pochettino has become the bookies’ hot-favourite to succeed Zinedine Zidane.
The France legend shocked world football by quitting just days after his historic third consecutive Champions League crown.
Beenhak ker has claimed Argentinian Pochettino would be mad to say no to managing Madrid.
The former Holland, Ajax and Feyenoord boss said: “If I was him I would take it, I would jump at the chance.
“Real Madrid came for me twice and both times it was impossible to turn them down.
“They are the biggest club in the world and managing them still brings back great memories 30 years later.”
The 75-year-old won a hat-trick of La Liga titles as well as two Spanish Super Cups and a Copa del Rey during his three year spell which ended in 1989.
He returned in 1992 for a brief five month stint and is seen as one of Madrid’s greatest foreign managers.
And although the club is currently ruled by President Florentino Perez, Beenhakker claims Pochettino should say yes if Madrid make the call.
He said: “Presidents at Madrid always have a huge influence and it was the same in my day with Ramon Mendoza.
“I was lucky I had two greats in Alfredo Di Stefano and Francisco Gento by my side.
“They were the club’s scouts and they gave me Emi l io Butragueno and Hugo Sanchez so how could I complain.
“When I signed in 1986 Mendoza said: ‘Leo, you have to win something every year and I won’t fire you.’ That is life at Madrid for every coach.”
Beenhakker insists that the immense pressure shouldn’ t frighten any of Madrid’s managerial targets.
He said: “As Madrid coach you have to work in such an intense way seven days a week.
“They want to be the best and to win. It’s a great club to be the head coach but it’s so much easier if you win.
“If not there’s pressure like nowhere else. For me I loved the pressure. I get the impression Zidane liked it too but it just became too much.”
Beenhakker believes Pochettino could be a perfect fit for Madrid due to their shared language.
“I have seen the work he has done at Spurs and he has one big advantage if Madrid want him – he speaks Spanish.
“Before I went to Madrid I was at Real Zaragoza and I quickly learned Spanish.
“I found at Madrid it’s very important to be able to communicate with everyone, to say the right words and reach the players in a certain way.
“There are quite a few South American players and as a Spanish speaker Pochettino would have no problem. “Saying si to Madrid would open up a whole new world for the Spurs
boss.”