Real Madrid News
Real Madrid veteran Thibaut Courtois outlines his future plans: ‘Want to play for another five or six years’
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is not thinking about retirement just yet, but the Belgian goalkeeper already appears to have an idea of what he would like to do when that day eventually arrives.
In a recent interview with Tuttomercato (h/t Defensa Central), Courtois revealed that he wants to continue playing for another five or six seasons before beginning a new chapter with Real Madrid.
“For now, I want to play for another five or six years,” he stated.
This comes on the back of Courtois stepping down from playing for the Belgian national team in order to focus on his club career, while he is also on the verge of signing a new contract with Los Blancos.
After recovering from serious injuries that threatened to disrupt his career and returning to his highest level, Courtois believes he can continue competing for several more seasons.
Plans for once he hangs up his boots
Once he is done with his playing career, Courtois’ ambition would be to work with the club’s academy goalkeepers and help develop the next top-class goalkeeper at Valdebebas.
Rather than managing a first-team squad, Courtois sees himself working in an area he knows inside out.
The Belgian would prefer to pass on everything he has learned throughout his career and help establish a high-level goalkeeping pathway within the club.
“I haven’t decided what I’ll do afterwards, but I’m not sure I want to be a first-team coach. With all the players you have to manage, I’d get old very quickly,” he said.
Developing the next Courtois at Valdebebas
The most revealing part of Courtois’ comments concerns what happens after his playing career.
He does not envisage completely walking away from football or Real Madrid. His ideal scenario would be to work with the club’s academy goalkeepers and play a role in their development.
“I’d like to work in Real Madrid’s goalkeeping department, creating a top-level academy to develop a new Thibaut Courtois rather than having to sign one,” he stated.
Having spent the largest part of his career at Real Madrid, he would like to help the club develop another goalkeeper of that calibre in the future rather than having to find one on the transfer market.
For now, he wants to continue playing for another five or six years.
Once his time between the posts eventually comes to an end, he would then like to remain at Valdebebas and help develop the goalkeepers who could eventually succeed him.
Real Madrid News
Jose Mourinho backed by FC Porto president to revive Real Madrid fortunes: ‘Still one of the best in the world’
Andre Villas-Boas has thrown his support behind Jose Mourinho, insisting the Real Madrid manager remains one of the best coaches in world football despite the difficult challenge facing him at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The former Porto manager, now the club’s president, believes Mourinho is well suited to the task of rebuilding Real Madrid after being appointed by Florentino Perez last summer.
Real Madrid are still searching for their first major trophy after two disappointing campaigns, while Barcelona have made an imposing start to the season.
Villas-Boas backs Mourinho at Real Madrid
Mourinho’s appointment was intended to bring a change in fortunes after Real Madrid endured two seasons without a major title.
His task, however, has become more complicated with Barcelona establishing themselves as a formidable force at the start of the campaign.
Villas-Boas nevertheless believes his compatriot has the experience and personality required for the challenge.
“Jose Mourinho is still one of the best in the world; I’ve always known that. And now he’s managing the best club in the world.
“It’s a shame that Barcelona are in this state. He’s taking over at a great time, just as he did when he left Inter.
“But these are the challenges Mourinho enjoys the most,” he said, according to AS.
Barcelona present Mourinho’s biggest challenge
Real Madrid’s task is made harder by Barcelona’s current form. Flick’s side have emerged as the early pace-setters, leaving Mourinho with little margin for error as he attempts to close the gap.
The Clasico on October 25, therefore, will inevitably become one of the defining fixtures of the season, but Real Madrid first need to establish greater consistency before they can challenge Barcelona across the campaign.
Mourinho was brought in precisely because of his experience of managing at the highest level, and Villas-Boas believes that experience can now be decisive.
Sneijder also backs Real Madrid boss
Villas-Boas is not the only former Mourinho associate to offer a strong assessment of his ability to change Madrid’s fortunes.
Wesley Sneijder, who worked with Mourinho at Inter and before playing for Real Madrid, has also backed the Portuguese coach to solve the problems at the Bernabéu.
“Mourinho is the only manager capable of turning Real Madrid’s fortunes around,” he had said.
Indeed, Mourinho is one of the finest coaches available to manage the current Real Madrid dressing room, but Barcelona’s current form has put pressure on the Portuguese to deliver instantly.
