Fernando Morientes is on his way back to Real Madrid. The former Spain international striker has been earmarked by the Whites’ higher-ups as the man to lead the Juvenil B academy team next season. This means a return to the club he left seven and a half years ago, following a move to Liverpool in January 2005.
Morientes took his first steps in coaching at the beginning of the year with the under-16s at Huracán Valencia, a team in Group 3 of Spain’s Segunda B (third division) that enjoyed a run to the promotion play-offs. The former Madrid star spent several weeks working with academy players aged 14-16, and is planning to do his national coaching badges over the next year.
Morientes has made up his mind to move into management, but is aware that he needs to cut his teeth and learn the ropes before making the step up. “Training is really important if you want to coach at this level, regardless of whether you played professional football or not. Starting off with the youth team is the best practice you can get”, he told MARCA during his time at Huracán.
The former Spain international is keen to take things in his stride and keep his feet on the ground. This will start with taking charge of the Whites’ fourth team, which includes Enzo Zidane (Zinedine’s son), as well as other starlets such as the winger Agoney, born in the Canary Islands, and the highly rated Spanish-Argentinian forward Marcos Legaz. He will begin his new role after Euro 2012, where he is currently in the Ukraine commentating for Spanish television.
