Schuster wasn't Real deal for Dundee
Former Dundee owner Peter Marr has revealed how he turned down new Real Madrid manager Bernd Schuster for the Dark Blues job in 2000 because the German had to be accompanied by a bodyguard everywhere he went.
Marr met with Schuster in Madrid after ex-Scotland international Steve Archibald made contact on hearing the Dens club were looking to appoint a continental coach.
Capello (left) was replaced by Schuster at the Bernabeu
Schuster, who went on to manage Levante, FC Koln and Getafe before yesterday taking on arguably the top job in world football, was the front-runner for the Dens job until Marr flew to Spain and was confronted by the German legend's bodyguard.
Seeing his potential new manager flanked by a burly, leather-clad minder put Marr off and he subsequently went for Ivano Bonetti instead.
Dundee fans will wonder what could have been had Schuster been appointed but Marr, who relinquished control of the club last season and is gearing up to watch his team as a supporter this term, still believes he made the right decision at the time.
He revealed: "Bernd applied for the job through Steve, so I went to Spain to meet him. We had lunch and he seemed a nice bloke but, the whole time, there was this guy dressed in black, with a large leather belt and a ponytail, watching every move.
"When I asked later on, I was told he was Schuster's bodyguard. Apparently, he is a controversial character and is very opinionated so he needs protection all the time. From that moment, my interest cooled, but I've watched his career since and it's amazing what he's done."
Dundee subsequently went for Bonetti, who dazzled the board with his contacts in Italy and South America. The former Juventus and Grimsby player, one of the game's most colourful characters, did well initially, attracting Fabian Caballero, Georgi Nemsadze and Juan Sara to Tayside, but things went downhill from there as the money dried up.
Meanwhile, current manager Alex Rae has completed his sixth capture of the close season by tying up Hearts defender Craig Sives on a one-year loan.
Read More
The 21-year-old, who was farmed out to Partick Thistle last season, joins David Worrell, David O'Brien, Craig Samson, Freddie Daquin and Jan Zemlik in a new-look Dark Blues squad.
The 6ft 7in Zemlik, who sealed a 12-month deal on Saturday, has gone back to the Czech Republic to finalise his move but will return for Saturday's friendly with Millwall.
