MADRID, Oct 6 - Former Real Madrid striker Emilio
Butragueno was officially named as the club's sporting director
on Wednesday.
The 41-year-old replaces Jorge Valdano, who resigned from
the post in June shortly before Florentino Perez was re-elected
as club president.
Butragueno, popularly known as "El Buitre" (the vulture),
became the symbol of the team that won five consecutive league
titles between 1986 and 1990, playing over 560 matches for the
club and scoring 217 goals.
He scored 26 goals in his 69 appearances for Spain and lies
in third place behind Raul and Fernando Hierro in the all-time
list of leading scorers.
Another former Real Madrid player, Michel, rejected a
proposal to take up Butragueno's former position as assistant
sporting director, saying that the club had not listened to his
plans nor made him a serious financial offer.