The arrival of Manuel Pellegrini at Real Madrid was marked by a rare move in football recruitment: the club paid Villarreal to secure his services. Four million euros exchanged hands, a sum that underscored the high stakes involved when the white club sought a change in direction for the bench.
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On June 1, 2009, the Chilean was presented as Madrid’s head coach. He ran the season with a strong start, but the campaign ultimately yielded no official silverware for the trophy cases. Still, Pellegrini left a distinct imprint on the club’s record books.
In terms of numbers, his tenure produced standout results. He guided Real Madrid to the best points haul the club had achieved in a single season up to that moment: 96 points from 114 possible. The team also racked up 18 home wins, 13 away wins, and a total of 31 victories, representing a level of consistency few managers reached at the club during that era.
During Pellegrini’s spell, Real Madrid tallied 102 goals, and he quickly established himself as one of the most effective coaches in the club’s modern history. His league win rate stood at 81.58%, a figure that stood for three seasons until the emergence of Jose Mourinho, who would later guide Madrid to a perfect 100-point season and push the goal tally above 121 in the league alone.
The Alcorconazo and the downturn
Yet, beyond league play, Pellegrini faced challenges in knockout competitions that defined the broader perception of his tenure. A landmark moment came in the Copa del Rey when Madrid suffered a dramatic 4-0 defeat in the first leg at Santo Domingo against Alcorcón, a lower-division side that silenced the Bernabéu in the return leg and dashed hopes of a domestic cup run under his leadership.
Another setback occurred in the Champions League, where Madrid were eliminated in the Round of 16 by Olympique Lyon. When the league season concluded with 96 points, three behind the champions Barcelona, the club’s board chose to end Pellegrini’s contract. His departure was announced on May 26, 2010, shortly after discussions that highlighted differences in signing strategies and overall direction between the manager and the club’s president.
That disagreement, many observers noted, stemmed from differing ideas about recruitment and squad-building at the highest level, where vision and timing can swing the balance between a successful season and a disappointing exit from title contention.
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