Madrid - The economic crisis means there will be few newcomers to the Spanish Liga in the January transfer window. The only big names will probably be Lassana Diarra and Klaas Jan Huntelaar, on whom Real Madrid have spent almost 40 million euros (27.51 million dollars).

None of the other big clubs are planning to make major winter signings, meaning the most interesting newcomer this winter will be a

coach instead.

Hugo Sanchez has not been out of the headlines since taking over at troubled Almeria 10 days ago. The brash Mexican has already changed the training schedule, the diet of the players, the tactics, the lineup ... and the results as well.

His debut on Sunday was a hard-fought 1-0 win over local rivals and fellow strugglers Betis, a result which lifts Almeria up from third to seventh from bottom.

Almeria finished eighth last season, their highest ever placing. However, young coach Unai Emery then left for Valencia, and Gonzalo Arconada was sacked two weeks ago after failing to emulate Emery.

The choice of Sanchez as replacement raised eyebrows across Spain, since the Mexican has no Spanish coaching experience. He was manager of the Mexican national team from 2006-2008, though without much success.

As a player, he was the second highest goalscorer in the history of La Liga, after the legendary Telmo Zarra of Athletic Bilbao, and the highest ever scoring foreign import.

He was league top scorer for five seasons, scoring 164 goals in 207 games for Real Madrid from 1985 to 1992 - after a controversial move from neighbours Atletico which provoked anger and indignation.

Often criticized for being ambitious and cynical, Sanchez - a qualified dentist - always makes an impact, for good or bad.

"Hugo has changed many things here in such a short time," said striker Alvaro Negredo on Monday. "Maybe this kind of change is what we needed."

Sanchez, 50, has been busy not just changing the setup at Almeria, but also courting the media. On Tuesday AS published an interview with him which makes it clear that Almeria is just a stepping stone on the road to the bench of a big club - hopefully Real Madrid.

"I want to triumph in Spanish football," he told AS, "and one of my objectives is Real Madrid. I am ready for Real Madrid, but I am waiting for my moment. The president (Ramon Calderon) knows that."

Sanchez has raised eyebrows in recent years by offering himself for the Real bench on the many occasions when that job has been vacant.

"My hope for many years was to coach in Spain," he added. "Since I retired as a player, my only objective was to be a coach ... They said I was short on experience (for Spain), but how am I going to be short of experience if I have been one of the foreigners who have played longest here and won most trophies?"

Sanchez admits that his model as a coach is Luis Aragones, the man who guided Spain to Euro 2008 glory - before leaving for Fenerbahce - and the man who was "my tutor" at Atletico Madrid, from 1981 to 1985.

"I have to say that I have an extraordinary friendship with him ... He is the strongest reference that I have, I want to follow in his footsteps."

Sanchez concluded the interview by saying that "I want to be a success here (in Almeria), and then see what the future holds."