Sanz to appoint Del Bosque if elected Real president

MADRID, June 6 (Reuters) Former president Lorenzo Sanz will bring back Vicente del Bosque as Real Madrid coach if he wins the club's presidential election on July 2.

''You just need to look at the success we had when he was here so it is absurd not to opt for him,'' Sanz told a news conference today.

''We have spoken and he is in agreement that if I win he will return to be coach.'' Del Bosque was coach for three and a half years before being sacked by president Florentino Perez in 2003, having steered Real to two European Cups and two league titles. Sanz, who was president between 1995 and 2000, promoted Del Bosque from within to replace John Toshack. During his presidency Real won the European Cup in 1998 and 2000 and collected a league title in 1997.

He was surprisingly defeated in 2000 by Perez, who went on to crush him in the 2004 election.

Sanz said he would reveal the details of his sports and economic policies next Monday, but played down the possibility of parading any potential big name signings.

''Perhaps we'll put forward some names but you could sign the best player in the world and he would fail at the moment, because we don't have a sports plan in place,'' Sanz added.

''We need to approach this subject calmly, analyse the team, and to consult with the coach first.'' Sanz is one of five candidates who have joined the race.

Lawyer and economist Arturo Baldasano and club director Ramon Calderon have presented their bids, as have former director Juan Miguel Villar Mir and ex-world rally champion Carlos Sainz who have entered a joint bid.

Baldasano has said he will appoint England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who stands down after the World Cup finals in Germany, as coach if he is elected.

Leading Spanish businessman Juan Palacios is scheduled to announce his bid on Wednesday.

A presidential election was called when the Real board ousted Fernando Martin two months after replacing Perez, who quit at the end of February.

Real have just finished their third successive season without a major trophy, their worst run of form in 52 years.

REUTERS DH RAI2140