The 2008 & 2012 European Champion and 2010 World Cup winner has been collecting titles at a dizzying pace as Spain not only has been producing top level footballers at all age groups but also has one of the best leagues in the world. Love them or not, over the last decade Spanish Football has spearheaded the sport around the world and right before Israel faces La Roja, Maccabi’s own Spaniard sat down to analyze why they have become one that is envied across the globe.
Juan Torrijo, the Yellow & Blue fitness coach who has been with the club for five years and grew up in Valencia, Spain looked at the keys to his homeland’s footballing success. Torrijo, who saw it happening first hand shares with us the secret to his country’s success. “The 1992 Barcelona Olympic games changed everything. The government invested in sports following the games and they created a structure in the country to help municipalities build new football training grounds and basketball courts. This gave a base for sports for everyone in Spain and it gave them easy access to sports in general. The federations had the knowledge and freedom and leagues to create competitions in every sport, not only football. But football started to grow and players of quality began to emerge.”
Torrijo ()
“One of the keys is that they played football sevens and sports were accessible to all as the fees were very low. All the federations pushed the coaches to get licenses and wouldn’t allow anyone without one to any age group. You had to do a course that was a minimum of one year. There was also a constant competitiveness amongst the coaches to be the best.”
Moving up the ranks:
“I remember when I was working as a coach for only 200 Euros per month. Most importantly was the patience that we showed in moving up and being better coaches. There was a tremendous amount of competition in the coaching ranks.”
Scouting around the country to find quality players:
“There is a scouting structure around they country and they are watching the National community teams. Each community has a National Team such as Aragones, Madrid, Valencia and Catalonia. All of these communities have a selection of players and the scouts watch the competition between these teams. They then can select the best players from there. The base is so big around the country.
Style played by the National Teams:
“The National Teams all play similarly, taking possession, play forward and are be proactive, not waiting around for a counterattack. All of the teams work the same way on the National Team level and many of the club teams as well. 90% of the Academy’s play proactive football and take possession of the ball and create football.
Player selection and characteristics:
“Having a winning mentality is crucial but they also look to see how smart the players are as well. However, if you don’t have enough skills you can’t be in the top competition. When you select the players with good skills you are also selecting the smart players. Decision making is most important.”
Systems played in Spain:
“Ramón Rodríguez Verdejo or Monchi (Sevilla) created something that no other sporting directors did. He had a structure and a system for scoring that they control all of the games around the world. They have a selection of players for each position and they have different skills, tactical, mental. This works in Sevilla and a few other clubs have done it as well.”
About Spain’s Head Coach:
“I met with Julen Lopetegui when he was the coach of the Spain Under-21 side that played in Israel during the Euro U21 2013 Championships. He is a really good guy and a very serious and focused person on his job. He gave the Spain National Team a fresh look and they are much more aggressive. He is also transitioning the youth players which is also a big part of what he is doing. They are pressing forward and playing with the 5-second rule when they lose the ball.”
Spanish football going forward:
“I don’t know if they will win any titles but they will be at the top of the competition. When you play in a final and lose against Germany I wouldn’t be too worried. If Spain makes it to a final then I know what they are doing is working. The next generation will be good enough because we see many good players at Real Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia plus teams like Villarreal. For a country of 40 million people we are doing well because of the Academy structure is much better and more competitive than any other country.”
Comparing and contrasting Spanish & Israeli football:
“Israelis love Spanish football and there are many similarities between the two. But the two things that are missing here is the government support and the Academy structures. The level of the leagues is not the same and the development of the coaches as well. Those that think they know everything and don’t want to learn are coaches who are not good. I am learning everyday and I read everything I can get my hands on in English and Spanish and try to adapt this information to our structure. If we believe that we know everything then we will be ignorant.”
La Liga forecast for this season:
“It’s too early to talk about what’s going to happen. Real Madrid and Barcelona will be at the top and Atletico in 3rd. I hope that my Valencia will fight as they are getting some good results.
