Former Real Madrid CF captain and international defender Fernando Hierro has been unveiled as the Spanish Football Federation's new sporting director.
No competition
The 39-year-old, speaking at his presentation, insisted that he would not be stepping on national team coach Luis Aragonés's toes in his role, saying: "I've been here for a month and my relationship with Luis Aragonés is friendly – very direct. It's not about being a boss but about different areas and mine is the sporting one, and his the technical one. I'm at his disposal for whatever he needs. My No1 candidate for the coaching post is Luis Aragonés and I haven't spoken to anyone else. The important thing now is qualifying for the [UEFA] European Championship and our main worry is the match in Denmark [on 13 October]. I will travel with the team so they understand it's the biggest game this year."
Superb career
Hierro becomes the first person to occupy the post, having retired from playing in 2005 after a campaign at Bolton Wanderers FC in England. He had started his first-class career at Real Valladolid CF in 1987 before joining Madrid two years later and going on to spend 14 seasons with the capital club. At the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Hierro won five Primera División titles, the UEFA Champions League in 1998, 2000 and 2002, the UEFA Super Cup, two European/South American Cups, one Copa del Rey and three Spanish Super Cups. Hierro, fourth in Madrid's all-time appearances list having played 439 matches, also collected 89 caps, scoring 29 goals, for his country before quitting international football after the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Recently he had been working for a sports marketing company.
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