Squad: Jose Mourinho (Coach)

Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho (Setubal, Portugal, 26-1-1963) joined Real Madrid one week after winning the Champions League title with Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Nerazzurri hadn't won the title in 45 years, but under the Portuguese coach Inter also won the Italian Scudetto and the Cup of Italy during the 2009/10 season; the first-ever treble in club history. Mourinho also won the Scudetto in his first season at Inter, as well as the Italian Super Cup.

Earlier in his career, Mourinho won six titles in three years at Chelsea. During his first year at Stamford Bridge, he won the Premier League and the Carling Cup. Chelsea won the Premiership again the following year after a tight race with Manchester United throughout the season, which the Blues opened by winning the Community Shield. Mourinho led Chelsea to victory in the FA Cup and the Carling Cup during the 2006/07 campaign.

Before leaving for England, Mourinho won the second Champions League title for Porto in 2004 as well as the Portuguese league title (the first for Porto in four years). With the Portuguese side he also won one UEFA Cup, one Cup of Portugal and one Portuguese Super Cup.

Data

• Place of Birth: Setubal, Portugal
• Date of Birth: 26 January 1963
• Nationality: Portuguese

Honours

• Champions League: 2004 (Porto), 2010 (Inter)
• UEFA Cup: 2003 (Porto)

• Spanish League: 2011/12
• Scudettos: 2008/09, 2009/2010 (Inter)
• Premier League: 2004/05, 2005/06 (Chelsea)
• Portuguese League: 2002/03, 2003/04 (Porto)

• Spanish Cup: 2010/11 (Real Madrid)
• Italian Cup: 2009/10 (Inter)
• F.A. Cup: 2006/07 (Chelsea)
• Carling Cup: 2004/05, 2006/07 (Chelsea)
• Cup of Portugal: 2002/03 (Porto)

• Spanish Super Cup: 2012
• Italian Super Cup: 2008 (Inter)
• Community Shield: 2005 (Chelsea)
• Portuguese Super Cup: 2003 (Porto)

Personal accolades:

• FIFA World Coach of the Year: 2010
• IFFHS Best Coach award: 2004, 2005, 2010
• UEFA Best Coach: 2002/03, 2003/04
• League Managers Association (LMA) Hall of Fame: Inducted 2010
• Best coach of the Italian League: 2009
• Best Coach of the Premier League: 2004/05, 2005/06
• Best Coach of the Portuguese league: 2002/03, 2003/04

UEFA Champions League 2010-2011 Summary

Here you will remember all the games played for Real Madrid during the 2010-2011 season of the UEFA Champions League that ended with FC Barcelona as champions. The white team was defeated in the semifinals by the champion team, after a great season and a controversial refereeing in the first leg of the semifinal round.

KNOCK-OUT ROUNDS

Champions League 2010-2011

Semifinals (2nd Leg): Barcelona 1 - Real Madrid 1

Semifinals (1st Leg): Real Madrid 0 - Barcelona 2

Quarterfinals (2nd Leg): Tottenham 0 - Real Madrid 1

Quarterfinals (1st Leg): Real Madrid 4 - Tottenham 0

Last 16 (2nd Leg): Real Madrid 3 - Olympique Lyon 0

Last 16 (1st Leg): Olympique Lyon 1 - Real Madrid 1

GROUP TABLE

Group Table

Day 6: Real Madrid 4 - Auxerre 0

Day 5: Ajax 0 - Real Madrid 4

Day 4: Milan 2 - Real Madrid 2

Day 3: Real Madrid 2 - Milan 0

Day 2: Auxerre 0 - Real Madrid 1

Day 1: Real Madrid 2 - Ajax 0

Spanish Cup 2010-2011 Summary

Here you will remember all the games played for Real Madrid during the 2010-2011 season of the Spanish Cup. Cristiano Ronaldo's goal ended with eighteen years of abstinence from the last Real Madrid's title in the Copa del Rey. Mourinho's first title for Real Madrid and the first final that Guardiola has lost on FC Barclona bench.

SPANISH CUP TABLE

Spanish Cup Table

Final: Barcelona 0 - Real Madrid 1

Semifinals (2nd Leg): Real Madrid 2 - Sevilla 0

Semifinals (1st Leg): Sevilla 0 - Real Madrid 1

Quarterfinals (2nd Leg): Atletico 0 - Real Madrid 1

Quarterfinals (1st Leg): Real Madrid 3 - Atletico 1

5th Round (2nd Leg): Levante 2 - Real Madrid 0

5th Round (1st Leg): Real Madrid 8 - Levante 0

4th Round (2nd Leg): Real Madrid 5 - Murcia 1

4th Round (1st Leg): Murcia 0 - Real Madrid 0

Spanish League 2010-2011 Summary

Here you will remember all the games played for Real Madrid during the 2010-2011 season of the Football Spanish League that ended with FC Barcelona as champions. The white team was runner-up.

SPANISH LEAGUE TABLE

Spanish League Table 2010-2011

Day 38: Real Madrid 8 - Almería 1

Day 37: Villarreal 1 - Real Madrid 3

Day 36: Real Madrid 4 - Getafe 0

Day 35: Sevilla 2 - Real Madrid 6

Day 34: Real Madrid 2 - Zaragoza 3

Day 33: Valencia 3 - Real Madrid 6

Day 32: Real Madrid 1 - Barcelona 1

Day 31: Bilbao 0 - Real Madrid 3

Squad: Gonzalo Higuain (20)

Gonzalo Higuain

Gonzalo Higuaín jumped onto the world football stage after being named Breakthrough Player on Argentina’s 2006 Torneo Apertura. "Pipita" is known for his speed in the last third of the pitch, his great striking ability, and his precisionpassing. Quick, elegant, and a knack for decision-making make Higuaín a fashionable forward in today's world of football.

Higuaín scored his first goal as Madridista against Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderón Stadium in 2006/07. His propensity for scoring in derbies dates back to his first Boca-River clash, when he led Los Millonarios to victory with a stunning brace. During his first year with Real Madrid he was criticised for rushing his shots on goal, but his few successful finishes were worth their weight in gold; Higuaín netted the game winner in the team’s amazing 4-3 comeback against Espanyol and lit a spark under his teammates in the season-closer against Mallorca.

Whether he plays close to the six-yard box or along the right wing, Higuaín has what it takes to be a goal-scoring machine.

Data

• Place of Birth: Brest, France
• Date of Birth: 12/10/1987
• Position: Forward
• Weight: 81.5 kg
• Height: 184 cm
• Nationality: Argentine/French

Honours

• La Liga (Spanish League): 2006/07, 2007/08, 2011/12
• Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup): 2010/11
• Spanish Super Cup: 2008, 2012

Spanish Super Cup (1st Leg): Real Madrid 2 - 2 FC Barcelona

Real Madrid did everything in their power to defeat Barcelona, but it wasn't to be. Tonight's match proved football is sometimes unfair. Barça scored from the only two chances they had on Casillas' goal. The Whites fought to the end supported by their fans.

Great performance without good result

Real Madrid's pressure close to Valdes' goal surprised Barcelona, who seemed to marvel at the physical prowess of Mourinho's men. Guardiola's players didn't feel comfortable on the pitch and the crowd roared in support of every local venture in attack. The Whites scored their first goal on the 12-minute mark through Özil, who was assisted brilliantly by Benzema on the box line after dribbling past Abidal. The locals continued to search for more strikes and the Frenchman had a good chance in the 28th minute that was cleared by the keeper.

But just when everyone expected Real to score again, Villa pulled rank and defeated Casillas with a great shot from outside the box (35'). The strike was a harsh blow to Mourinho's side, but nevertheless, Cristiano Ronaldo kept trying for a winner and came close to netting it with a shot that marginally missed the target. Football was yet to be cruel once more with the Madridistas and Messi, having capitalised on Pepe slipping inside the box, found himself alone with Casillas and defeated him on the 45-minute mark.

Real Madrid continued their onslaught on Valdes' goal after half-time, spearheaded by the injustice of fate. Mourinho made Fabio Coentrao come on for Di Maria (53') and the equaliser soon followed: Ozil served a corner kick, the ball was deflected and landed at Pepe's feet, the defender controlled it and passed it back to Xabi Alonso, who scored from a great crossed shot.

Callejon came on for Khedira minutes later (57') and the team continued having plenty chances to score. A free-kick by Ronaldo missed the mark in the 63rd minute, a header by Benzema was saved by Valdes on the 66-minute mark, and possession clearly belonged to Real Madrid. But no more goals were scored and the clock was ticking. Higuain came on for Benzema in the 80th minute and two minutes later followed the most controversial play of the game: Valdes tripped Cristiano Ronaldo inside the box with his right arm and the referee failed to award a penalty. Barcelona also demanded a penalty after Pedro was tackled inside the box close to the end of the match but none was awarded either. The final minutes of the game saw Real Madrid put on a siege on Valdes' goal and Barcelona defending themselves any way they could.

In the end, a superior Real Madrid side only managed to draw the match and will have to fight to win the title at Camp Nou on Wednesday.

Summary

Stadium: Santiago Bernabeu
Attendance: 79,528
Goals: 1-0: Özil , min.13. 1-1: David Villa, min.36. 1-2: Messi, min.45. 2-2: Xavi Alonso, min.55.

Squad: Karim Benzema (9)

Karim Benzema

Karim Benzema was born in Lyon, France on 19 December 1987 to a working class family originally from northern Algeria; roots that defined his mature yet simple character. The early days of his life as a footballer began at the age of 9 with Olympique Lyonnais, a club he had never left until signing for Real Madrid. He was one of the youth system’s most outstanding players and scored 38 goals in one season with the Under-16 side followed by the UEFA European Under-17 title with France in 2004. He debuted with Lyon’s first team on 15 January 2005 against Metz. Although he did not score, he did provide an assist to Bryan Bergougnoux, who scored the winning goal. Despite the fact that Benzema had been crowned champion of Europe, club staff didn’t want to rush the player’s development and only played him in six matches that season. He did however go on to score 12 goals in 14 matches with France’s Under-18 side.

The following year he played in 13 matches, scored one goal and made his Champions League debut against Rosenborg. He played in 21 matches and scored five goals in 2006/07, but Benzema really exploded onto the scene in 2007/08. Lyon won the Ligue 1 title for the seventh straight year as well as the Coupe de France. It was also the year he debuted with the French national team. On 28 March 2007 Benzema suited up for Les Bleus against Austria and scored his first international goal. The major thorn in his side was the 2008 Euro after France fell in the opening round. This season was especially bittersweet for the striker. His coach kept him on a relatively tight leash, allowing Benzema to score just 17 goals in 36 matches. Despite being eliminated by Barcelona in the Last 16 of the Champions League, Benzema did manage to score five goals in Europe’s top competition.

Benzema’s football is based on tremendous strength, his wicked moves, unlimited ball skills and a superb strike. The Madridista striker is intelligent and dominates every facet of what his position demands. He is an animal inside the box when his team needs him and he is the perfect man to initiate a counter-attack when his teammates feel pressured.

Data

• Place of Birth: Lyon, France
• Date of Birth: 12/19/1987
• Position: Forward
• Weight: 83.5 kg
• Height: 184.1 cm
• Nationality: French

Honours

• La Liga (Spanish League). 2011/12
• Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup): 2010/11
• Spanish Super Cup: 2012
• Ligue 1: 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08
• Coupe de France: 2008
• Trophée de Champions: 2005, 2006, 2007