Pellegrini presented as new Real coach

Real Madrid Tuesday presented its new coach, Manuel Pellegrini opening up what the club hopes will be a new era in its history.

The 55-year-old Chilean was named late Monday to replace Juande Ramos, who was signed to a six-month contract in mid-December.

He is the first coach under the second term of president Florentino Perez, the inspiration behind the Real “Galacticos” when he first headed the club from 2000 to 2006.

Pellegrini is “an intelligent professional, a worker, well-balanced … who always tries for elegant and tasteful football,” said Perez in presenting him to the press at the Santiago-Bernabeu stadium.

Pellegrini arrives in the Spanish capital after five years at Villareal, during which time he maintained the small club in the top flight of the Primera Liga and gained a reputation for encouraging fluid and attacking football.

In his first season there, Villareal finished third in La Liga and achieved their first direct qualification for the European Champions League, going on to the semi-finals before losing narrowly to Arsenal.

“I have always sought well-played football because I think it is the football that gives the best results,” said Pellegrini, who has also coached clubs in his native Chile and in Ecuador and Argentina.

“Very often a lot of journalists oppose a beautiful game in favour of results. In my career I have had the chance to be able to do both, they can go together.”

The Chilean said he felt “emotion and pride to be chosen to lead the most important club in the world.

“When I started my career 23 years ago I said that I would end it by leading Real Madrid. Now that I have accomplished that, I can say that it is a dream.”

Next season Real will be up against a resurgent Barcelona, its arch-rival and who this year won the unique treble of league, Spanish cup and Champions League under new coach Pep Guardiola.