Jorge Solari, the Real Madrid coach’s uncle, spoke to Radio Mitre about the challenges that lie ahead for his nephew: “Managing the dressing room is very difficult…”
Just after 20:00 hours this evening, Santiago Hernán Solari left his provisional coaching role at Real Madrid to become the permanent coach with a contract tying him to the club until June 2021. It’s recognition of the results the Argentinean has achieved during the four games he has overseen as caretaker manager – those results are a great source of pride for his family back home in South America. His uncle Jorge El Indio Solari, chatted to Radio Mitre Rosario programme Juega La Banda about the career opportunity his nephew has been handed and how pleased his relatives are to see Santiago take the reins: “The Solaris are a football family and when things go well, we enjoy it as much as anyone. It’s a great opportunity – a huge chance and let’s hope he has luck on his side”, Jorge Solari said.
Football family
The Solaris certainly are a family with football in their ADN. Eduardo, the new Real Madrid coach’s father, played for Rosario, Junior de Barranquilla, Gimnasia y Esgrima, Argentinos Juniors, Atlético Tucumán and Renato Cesarini), and his uncle Jorge enjoyed spells at Newell’s, Vélez, River Plate, Estuadiantes and Torreón. Both were well-known players in Argentina during tghe 60s and 70s. And it was from his Uncle Jorge, that Santiago earned his nickname El Indiecito. For his vast experience of the game – including LaLiga, Jorge Solari knows full well the challenges that his nephew will face in the Madrid job – one of the toughest in football. “It’s an incredibly tough job – that’s why the coach is so well paid”, he joked before becoming more serious: “Manging the Real Madrid squad is an incredibly difficult task. To be the coach there, you need to have won more trophies than the players and have earned more money. The players who join Madrid have cost the club a lot of money, they are top level players who go on to have successful careers…”
Too busy to talk
Jorge added that he hasn’t had the chance to talk to Santiago about the Madrid job yet which is understandable. “We haven’t been able to chat recently, the poor bloke… you have to leave him to get on with things and not hassle him. If he needs to speak to anyone here, he’ll call. A bit late on, when he’s settled well have a chat on the phone and visit him”.
After his playing days were over, Jorge el Indio Solari went into coaching himself. He started out in 1974 with Rosario and for the next 40 years held coaching posts in Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador, Saudi Arabia, Chile and Spain. He spent two seasons as coach at Tenerife in the early 90s. One of his most masterful decisions was convincing his nephew Fernando Redondo to sign for the Tinerfeños in 1990…