New Real boss must have 'Madrid' feeling

Real Madrid president Fernando Martin claims the club's next coach must have 'the Madrid feeling' after revealing four English-based managers are on his shortlist.

Martin has named a list of seven from which he hopes to appoint a full-time successor to caretaker boss Juan Roman Lopez Caro.

The list included England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson, Chelsea's Jose Mourinho, Liverpool's Rafael Benitez and Arsenal's Arsene Wenger.

A trio of Italians - Juventus boss Fabio Capello, AC Milan's Carlo Ancelotti and Italy coach Marcello Lippi - are also interesting Martin.

After admitting the club had already been approached by 'more than 30' coaches over the position, Martin made it clear he wanted someone who understood the club's traditions.

'All I have to say is that we have to choose someone who has the Madrid feeling,' he told the club's official website.

His search could be a long one, however.

Benitez and Wenger have ruled themselves out while Eriksson is currently pre-occupied with England's bid to win the 2006 World Cup, although he will leave the position after the summer's tournament in Germany.

Mourinho is a former Barcelona employee and has already informed his players he will still be at Chelsea next season.

Ancelotti has recently signed a contract extension at Milan and Lippi is thought to be happy in his role with the Azzurri.

Capello has already coached the Spanish giants, leading them to the 1997 Primera Liga title in his only season in charge.

But with Juve cruising to a second successive Serie A crown and still in the Champions League, it remains to be seen whether he views Madrid as a step forward in his career.

Whoever the club appoint will have to oversee a major shift in club policy with the Spanish giants set for a third year in a row without any major silverware.

Martin insists, though, the club's star assets - such as England captain David Beckham - will not be sold on the cheap.

'None of the galacticos are for sale,' he said, before admitting a better balance between on- and off-field success must be found.

'I want to win titles and if we do, then we will sell shirts,' he added.

'If we don't win them, even if you want to sell shirts, no-one is going to buy them.

'But we shouldn't forget that from 2000 up to now, Real Madrid has undergone a spectacular change.'