Discarded Del Bosque honoured by Real
Reuters - Thursday 17 March 2011, 18:12
MADRID - Real Madrid have awarded an
honorary membership to World Cup winning coach Vicente del
Bosque, eight years after he was unceremoniously dumped by the
Spanish club.
Del Bosque won the Champions League twice and delivered two
La Liga titles after taking over as coach midway through the
1999/2000 season yet despite that glittering record the club
decided to dispense with his services in 2003.
Florentino Perez, who was club president at the time,
returned for a second spell in 2009 and he presided over the
board meeting where Del Bosque was selected for the highest
distinction Real can offer.
Real said the award was in recognition for his work as Spain
coach, following last year's triumph at the World Cup in South
Africa.
"Vicente del Bosque is recognised for his impeccable work as
the coach of World Cup champions Spain," Real said.
Tennis world number one Rafa Nadal and opera singer Placido
Domingo, both Real fans, were also selected for the honour, the
club said on their website.