Real set out stall by signing Sacchi as sports director

Real Madrid have signed former AC Milan and Italy coach Arrigo Sacchi, seen here in 2001, as the club's new sports director

Real Madrid have signed former AC Milan and Italy coach Arrigo Sacchi as the club's new sports director, Real club president Florentino Perez announced at a press conference.

Sacchi, who has until recently been working in the same capacity with Serie A side Parma, will replace Argentine Jorge Valdano who resigned from the post in June.

Perez said: "He (Sacchi) is someone we know well and who will bring all of his valuable experience to the club.

"We didn't need a coach for the team. We needed someone who can organise and plan everything to do with football and Arrigo Sacchi was the ideal candidate."

Sacchi is set to work under former Spanish international Emilio Butragueno, who was named the club's general sports director and a vice-president of the board.

Real Madrid, the nine-times European champions, are currently third in the Spanish league table 10 points adrift of arch rivals and league leaders Barcelona ahead of Tuesday's league matches.

However despite their buoyant title aspirations Real have not been as dominant a force in Spain since they sacked Vincente Del Bosque, who led Real to two Champions League titles and two league titles in his three and a half year tenure.

Barcelona have endured their own mini crisis in preceding years but since former Holland great Frank Rijkaard took over as coach and signed Brazil's Ronaldinho, on Monday voted FIFA's player of the year, the Catalans are back with a vengeance.

Now with Sacchi's appointment, star-studded Real appear to be making a statement about their future intentions.

Sacchi, who is credited with AC Milan's European Cup triumphs in 1989 and 1990 - a team in which Rijkaard and Dutch compatriots Ruud Gullit and Marco Van Basten played - should fit in well in the Spanish capital although his spell in charge of Real's city rivals Atletico in the 1998-99 season was brief and unsuccessful.