CARSON, Calif. (Thursday, June 13, 2013) – Chivas Guadalajara and Chivas USA Sporting President Dennis te Kloese and Director of Soccer Francisco “Paco” Palencia, today introduced Chivas USA’s newly-appointed Head Coach Jose Luis Real Casillas to the members of the media at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in Carson, Calif. Real joins Chivas USA after serving as Guadalajara’s Director of Sporting Development.

Te Kloese was the first panelist to address the media, and to express the importance of hiring one of the most respected individuals in Mexican soccer as the club’s new manager.

“It’s a very important day for Chivas as an organization, without distinguishing within Guadalajara or Chivas USA,” said Te Kloese. “We give a lot of importance to Chivas USA. To make the project relevant, you need to have somebody important here to be the leader of the project. I think with Jose Luis Real as the head coach and the leader of our team, we give huge importance and huge relevance to this club, to the team, and to everybody who is involved.

“I’ve known Jose Luis [Real Casillas] for years. I think he’s somebody who has had a great influence in soccer not only in Mexico but also internationally. I’m sure that by having somebody of his importance and stature here, our franchise will be as important as it should be. I wish him the very best as the new Head Coach of Chivas USA,” concluded the Sporting President.

Afterwards Palencia, who played with both Guadalajara and Chivas USA in his distinguished playing career and joined the Red-and-White organization’s front office in March, was given the microphone at the event.

“I want to reiterate the welcome to Jose Luis Real as he joins Chivas USA,” said Palencia. “We know all about his abilities and the knowledge that he can bring to the team. We are very happy that he joins this project and that he arrives to help us lift the Chivas name high to where we want to raise it in both in the U.S. and in Mexico in terms of soccer.”

Once the opening messages were concluded, the new shepherd of the Rebaño Angelino addressed members of the media and expressed his pleasure to being named to this new position within the Red-and-White organization.

“I don’t just arrive to manage the team simply for personal gain, I come on behalf of the institution,” announced Real. “This is a huge difference from what’s been done up to this point. We are seeking to achieve a unified system and to integrate [Chivas] Guadalajara’s ideas while always adapting them to the country we live in. The key word is integration, which should not be confused with the notion of doing exactly the same things as they are done in Guadalajara.

“The overall idea will be the same but there will be adaptations to a country that is different. Above everything, we need to implement whatever adaptations with great respect to the League and the country we are working in. I am intrigued and excited about the opportunity to influence, prove and demonstrate to the non-believers that we can accomplish that, [use a unified and integrated idea adapted to this League],” expressed the newly-appointed Technical Director.

Real will make his Major League Soccer coaching debut this Wednesday, June 19, when the Rojiblancos travel to face Western Conference rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC beginning at 7 p.m. (PT) at BC Place.

*Images of today’s presentation and B-roll of Head Coach Jose Luis Real are available by visiting the following FTP site:

chivasusa.egnyte.com
USER: chivasftp
Pass: chivasusa2013

Fact Sheet: Chivas USA Head Coach José Luis Real Casillas

Name: Jose Luis Real Casillas
Title: Head Coach of Chivas USA
Pronunciation: reh-AL kah-SEE-yahs
Date of Birth: June 6, 1952
Nationality: Mexican
Previous clubs: Chivas (Mexico), Atlas, Dorados de Sinaloa, Mexican Youth National Teams
Accomplishments: Finalist in Copa Libertadores Final in 2010, Champion of Centro-American Cup (1990), Winner of Pan-American Games in Winnipeg (1999), Pan-American Games Runner-up (1991)

· José Luis Real Casillas, born on June 6, 1952 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, is one of the most prestigious coaches in Mexican soccer.

· Real served as Youth Academy Director with Chivas Guadalajara from 1996 through 2003 and most recently served as Chivas’ Director of Sporting Development.

· As a Technical Director, he has been at the helm of teams such as Atlas, Dorados de Sinaloa and Chivas, whom he managed from Nov. 3, 2009 to Oct. 2, 2011 in 71 Mexican League matches. In 2010, he set Chivas’ record for most consecutive wins in the first stages of the tournament with eight victories in the Bicentenario 2010.

· Under Real’s management, Chivas reached the prestigious Copa Libertadores Final in 2010, where they finished second to Brazilian side International de Porto Alegre.

· Real has also served as Head Coach of several Mexico’s Youth National Teams, such as the U-17s in 2000, and the U-20s in 2001, among others.

· In 1990 he became Centro-American Champion with Mexico, Pan-American Runner-Up in 1991, placed sixth in Malaysia in 1997, also sixth place with the U-17s in New Zealand in 1998, and Pan-American Champion in Winnipeg, Canada in 1999.

· Between 1986 and 1994, Real was the Director of Youth Development with Atlas.