Carlos Queiroz yesterday took control of Real Madrid with a pledge that will be welcomed by both David Beckham and Portuguese winger Luis Figo.
"People ask me if Beckham and Figo can play in the same team and my answer is one of them would only be on the bench if he is injured or out of form," he said.
"Admittedly they more or less play in the same position but they are very different players technically and tactically.
"David is born to run, a footballer who never tires of working to make himself stronger and fitter and I love that ethos," Queiroz said.
After the club let their team captain Fernando Hierro go this week, Figo is poised to become the most powerful player at the club even ahead of Raul, the star striker who was damaged politically by his close friendship with Hierro.
Figo was nurtured by Queiroz as one of the so-called golden generation of young Portuguese players and the final negotiations with the new coach, who has signed a two-year contract, took place at Figo's house in the millionaire's playground of La Moraleja yesterday.
Figo is perhaps the one player now that Beckham cannot afford to fall out with, and it is likely to mean the former Manchester United winger being given a role as one of the two central midfield holding players by the former Manchester United coach with Figo roving wide on the right of a midfield three.