Capello's Real look for Italian-style renaissance

MADRID, Aug 17 (Reuters) After three trophy-less seasons in which the bankruptcy of their Galactico recruitment policy was cruelly exposed, Real Madrid believe the arrival of coach Fabio Capello is the key to a renaissance in their fortunes.

The serious-minded 60-year-old Italian has been charged with the urgent task of ensuring the nine-times European champions do not end yet another campaign without some meaningful silverware.

Capello has a matchless record of success as a coach, winning the league with every club that has employed him.

In his previous stint at Real in the 1996-97 season, he masterminded their triumph over a Ronaldo-inspired Barcelona to win the title.

Capello's Real won little acclaim for their pragmatic, results-based approach, while Barca earned admiration for their attack-minded football, but the club's fans might just forgive a less entertaining style of play as long as they can pip the Catalans to the title.

The appointment of Capello is one of the few election pledges new Real president Ramon Calderon has been able to honour for the season starting on Aug. 27.

The promised signings of Brazilian midfielder Kaka, Dutch winger Arjen Robben and Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas have failed to materialise.

Instead, Real have taken further advantage of the Italian match-fixing scandal by persuading World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro and Brazilian midfielder Emerson to follow Capello from Juventus.

They have also brought in Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy from Manchester United in an attempt to spice up a misfiring attack that looked so ordinary last season as an overweight Ronaldo lumbered around up front.

The two Juve old boys will give Real a cast-iron backbone, while the club will be hoping Van Nistelrooy can renew his lucrative partnership with former United team mate David Beckham and keep Ronaldo on his toes.

QUICK FIX But with all three recruits on the wrong side of 30 and Real continuing to offload some of their more promising youngsters, the club's recruitment policy smacks of a quick fix rather than a definitive solution to their problems.

Barring any late signings, Real are likely to lack creativity in midfield without the retired Zinedine Zidane, while up front they have a surfeit of ''media puntas'' with Raul, Antonio Cassano, Julio Baptista and Robinho all competing for a place behind Ronaldo or Van Nistelrooy in attack.

At the back, the team have an abundance of central defenders and right backs but little cover for a fading Roberto Carlos on the left.

The possible arrival of Arsenal's Jose Antonio Reyes could give them more options, but interest in Olympique Lyon's incombustible midfielder Mahamadou Diarra suggests Capello's priority remain the defence.

Real have overhauled their squad at the end of each one of the last three campaigns, and their total expenditure during this period amounts to close to 200 million euros (6 million).

Ending yet another season without a trophy is unthinkable for a club that has built its reputation on past success.

Much will depend on Capello's ability to inspire players like Beckham, Raul and Cassano to rediscover their form after their failure to live up to their billing last season.

Winning the league will be a tall order, but with the Italian at the helm Barca are certain to be given a run for their money.

REUTERS PM RK0902