Javier Aguirre is making Atletico Madrid a contender
SOCCER DAILY
The coach has added five key players since July 1 to the Spanish league team.
If May is the time when soccer championships are won, then July is the time when the next season's winners are built, and so far in the rebuilding process, Atletico Madrid's Mexican coach, Javier Aguirre, is way out in front of the pack.
Aguirre, who last year led Atletico to fourth place in the Spanish league to clinch a spot in this season's European Champions League qualifying tournament, targeted half a dozen players that he believed would make Atletico stronger in 2008-2009.
Although he has so far failed to land Brazilian striker Ricardo Oliveira from Real Zaragoza, on Wednesday he signed the last of the other five.
While defending champion Real Madrid has stood pat, albeit covetously eyeing Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo, its in-town rival Atletico has substantially strengthened its hand thanks to some smart shopping by its Mexican mentor.
In order, Aguirre has made these significant moves:
July 1 -- Signed free-agent defender Tomas Ujfalusi, 30, who captained the Czech Republic at Euro 2008. Ujfalusi had played for Fiorentina in Italy's Serie A for the last four seasons.
July 3 -- Signed French striker Florent Sinama-Pongolle, the 23-year-old former Liverpool forward who scored 22 goals in the last two seasons while playing for Recreativo Huelva. No fee was announced.
July 4 -- Signed France's starting goalkeeper, Gregory Coupet, 35, from French champion Olympique Lyon for a remarkably low $2.3 million. At Lyon, Coupet had won seven league titles in a row.
July 6 -- Signed free-agent Brazilian midfielder Paulo Assuncao, 28, from FC Porto, while at the same time announcing that Portuguese midfielder Maniche would be traded, possibly to Porto. Assuncao won three league titles in as many seasons with Porto.
July 9 -- Confirmed that it had acquired defender John Heitinga from Ajax Amsterdam for $15.7 million. Heitinga, 24, was named the Netherlands' player of the year last season and was on the Dutch team at Euro 2008.
Add it all up and Aguirre has, in short order added a Czech, two Frenchmen, a Brazilian and a Dutchman to his roster, significantly improving the team's defense while also strengthening its midfield and forward line.
Atletico already boasts such top-flight international forwards as Sergio Aguero of Argentina and Diego Forlan of Uruguay, plus influential midfielders Maxi Rodriguez of Argentina and winger Simao of Portugal.
