Mourinho and Valdano
But it all ended on Wednesday night when Valdano was sacked by the club, which will now allow Jose Mourinho to wield more influence at the club.
"We have decided to end the contractual relationship with Jorge Valdano," president Florentino Perez said at a hastily-convened press conference at the Bernabeu following a meeting of the club's board of directors.
As a former team manager Valdano has struggled to accept his off the field role over the years and enjoyed fractious relationships with most of the recent coaches. Probably a reflection of the politics of survival at the club, especially during the trophy less years. However the relationship with Mourinho never really got going since the "Special One " arrived from Inter Milan in the summer.
Although reappointed to club affairs when Florentino Perez returned to the club in 2009 he did not agree with the appointment of Mourinho.
It did not help that Mourinho was reportedly harbouring a grudge over a newspaper column the Argentinian wrote several years ago criticising his tactics as manager when he was as at Premier League club Chelsea.
The row was then complicated when the pair clashed after Valdano questioned Mourinho's request for another striker to be brought in as cover for the injured Gonzalo Higuain.
In the end after winning the Copa del Rey this season it was clear that Real Madrid would hold onto Mourinho, despite not winning La Liga or the Champions League semi final to Barcelona. So for many observers the departure of Valdano was the only possible outcome.
At the press conference on Wednesday night President Perez also stressed that Mourinho had not asked for more power at Madrid, saying “Mourinho did not make any demands. He asked for more autonomy in line with how English clubs are organised.
'I will not hide how painful the departure of Jorge Valdano is. We have come a long way together. But my feelings cannot be a reason for not fulfilling what I believe is my obligation. Jorge, I appreciate all your hard work and dedication.'
"Everything that we do, we do because they are the right decisions that do not take into account personal sentiment."
However Jorge Valdano gave another verdict.
"I am not the one who turned Real Madrid into a battlefield," said the Argentine in a media briefing that followed that of Perez. "All my efforts this season were directed toward restraint.
"It has been a long time since I have spoken personally to Mourinho. We greet each other politely, but he sought to deal with people other than me. My responsibilities with the first team were reduced. I did not feel comfortable in that situation."
Despite that verdict Valdano believes Real Madrid will progress under the Portuguese trainer.
"I believe Jose Mourinho staying on is good for a club that's been unstable in the past,” he said. “It needs to settle for a reasonable period of time. He's done a good job, I believe he is a good coach and I find it normal that he stays on.
For Valdano, a world cup winner with Argentina in Mexico 1986, it ends the link with Real that has existed since he moved from Real Zaragoza in 1984.
At the time he joined when Real were enjoying the success of the Quinta del Buitre - the graduates of the real youth team that included Michel, Butragueño, Pardeza, Sanchis and Martin Vazquez.. As part of the tea, Valdano won the UEFA Cup in 1985 and 1986, scoring once in the 1985 final and twice in the 1986 final.
After contracting Hepatitis, he decided to retire in 1988, and became a sports commentator also maintaining a link with the club as youth team coach. In the 1991/1992 season he became CD Tenerife's coach, helping it avoid relegation, and qualifying them for the UEFA Cup.
But the following season he returned to the Santiago Bernabeu as coach and won la Liga in the 1994/1995 season.
In 1997 Valdano became Real Madrid's Sporting Director until his resignation in June 2005. Then in June 2009 he came back to Real Madrid as Director General and Presidential Aide when Florentino Perez returned to the club.
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