UEFA COACHES CIRCLE EXTRANET

CASE STUDY No. 4

CASE STUDY No. 6: DEVELOPING ELITE YOUNG PLAYERS AT .F. (SPAIN)

UEFA COACHES CIRCLE EXTRANET CASE STUDY No. 6: DEVELOPING ELITE YOUNG PLAYERS AT REAL MADRID C.F. (SPAIN)

DIRECTOR OF YOUTH  Alberto Giraldez has been Head of the Youth Coordinator at Real Madrid since 2001.

He has previously been coach and Fitness Trainer at Celta Vigo, Real Madrid, Tenerife, Valencia, Sevilla and Valladolid.His full CV is provided at the end of this Case Study

PHILOSOPHY

 There is a common misunderstanding that the Real Madrid first team is populated exclusively by expensive foreign signings when infact the current team demonstrates as blend of ‘Galácticos’ and graduates of the Real Madrid Youth Programme e.g. Raúl, Casillas, , Raúl Bravo, Mejía, Pavón and Diego López.  7 of these players from the current first team squad are indeed ‘locally trained ‘as they are from the Madrid area.  They represent the biggest single geographical group amongst the first team squad and reflect the club’s policy to have Madrid players at the core of the club.  In addition, Real currently have over 49 players who have graduated from their Youth System playing with other Spanish First Division clubs and an additional 52 graduates of Real with Spanish Second Division clubs.  Real Madrid are supporters of the UEFA’ Locally Trained Regulations’ having proposed similar legislation some years ago. They believe there are practical advantages to the club of locally trained players which include: - loyalty to the club. - identification of the values of the club. - economic savings.

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STRUCTURE

 The Youth Coordinator reports into the Office of Emilio Butragueno, the Sports General Director, and a member of the Real Madrid Executive Board. Real also provide other top class sports (eg.basketball) but obviously football is the major sport but the inclusion of other sports accounts for the title of ‘Sports General Director’.  Alberto is assisted by and responsible for a team of scouts, coaches, medical staff, sports psychologists and a player counsellor.  In- Service, Continued Professional Development for the coaching staff is provided by the club every week on Thursdays for 40 minutes.  Real Madrid estimate that Youth Development accounts for 3% of the overall Real annual budget.

REAL MADRID IDENTIFY THREE STAGES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG PLAYERS

1. SELECTION (TALENT IDENTIFICATION) 2. FORMATION (DEVELOPMENT) 3. PROMOTION (BRIDGING THE GAP TO THE FIRST TEAM)

1. SELECTION (TALENT IDENTIFICATION)

Real Madrid use the following strategies to find talent:  Comprehensive briefing sessions and follow up meetings for all of the scouts employed part time by Real throughout Spain and the rest of the world. In 1990 they had 7 full-time scouts and in 2006 they employ 24 fulltime scouts to maintain their search priorities, which are: 1. Madrid and the surrounding Province. 2. Spain. 3. The EU. 4. The rest of the world.

 With regard to the Madrid area and Province, Real concentrate upon - Scouting local Madrid players. - Organising Talent Days on 6 Sunday mornings in the spring of each year.  With regard to the rest of Spain, Real have agreements (known as ‘Conventions’) with approximately 200 clubs throughout Spain where Real would have first option on players (aged 8-18 years) at these clubs. In return the clubs will receive kit, equipment and / or a friendly fixture with a Real Madrid team. It is not usual for money to be paid by Real as part of such a ‘Convenion’. ’Convenions’ could be with a junior, youth or Senior club but all Conventions are with Spanish clubs.  Real track players and note their development and then decide when they believe to be the right moment to register them as players and join the club. 3

 They begin to recruit at 8 years of age but until 15 years recruitment is only from the Madrid area.  They selection criteria similar to other clubs : - technique, decision-making, competitive temperament and the player’s potential to improve: the latter being the most critical factor for Real.

2. FORMATION (DEVELOPMENT)

 Staff

In 1990 Real Madrid employed 19 coaches (6 fulltime) but now employ 42 (11 fulltime) coaches from the 2nd team downwards.

 Players

Real have 293 registered players from the second team downwards.

Real purchase places at a private boarding school in Madrid for players aged 14-18 from outside Madrid and for some- from outside Spain. The players are accommodated with the other boys at the school where they receive their academic tuition, food and accommodation: Real organise a minibus service to transport to and from the Training Facility This costs the 15,000 Euros per player per year. Currently (in March 2006) there are 39 players in residence in this school.

 Teams

-The Real Madrid second (B) team play in the Spanish Second Division and play home matches at ‘Real Madrid City’ the training complex which does include a 6,000 capacity stadium (Now only one of two clubs who have their second team in this division). -Their 3rd (C) team play in the Regional 3rd Division. Real operate the following age related teams. - Three teams for 17-18 year olds (Juvenil A, B & C) - Two teams for 14-16 year olds (Cadette A & B) - Three teams for 13-14 year olds (Infantil A, B & C) - Two teams 10-12 year olds (Alevin A & B) - Two teams 8-9 year olds (Benjamin A & B)

Competitive football begins as small sided games and 11 v 11 is introduced.

From the Under 18 year upwards competition is therefore in National Competitions, but Real believe in providing tournaments – requiring overnight accommodation - for all their teams from 8 year old upwards. These may be in Spain or elsewhere in Europe and for the older players in North or South America.

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 Objectives

In common with other major club’s youth programmes, Real place more emphasis at the ‘Formation’ Stage on developing the player than the results of the youth teams. Nevertheless the training has a large functional element in that Real believe in teaching the basic principles of the game through the demands of the various positions. All the Youth Teams play a 1-4-3-3 and 1-4-4-2 system with one holding defensive mid-field player: this they believe encourages movement when the team is in possession and a collective defensive understanding when not in possession especially important for the other mid-field players.

 The Technical Programme

Emphasis upon: - developing the ‘thinking’ player rather than the ‘obedient’ player. - training for specific playing positions: a new initiative has been the grouping of all players 14-19 years of age in groups relative to their position for specific positional sessions once every two weeks. The players receive specific assistance in how to play their position and the sessions are augmented by the presence of a former Real Madrid player who had distinguished himself in that position.

 Access / Time

8 -13 years of age: 3 sessions per week x 2hours + one game per week. 14 -19 years of age: 4 sessions per week x 2hours + one game per week.

The Youth Team Programme operates throughout the year with a break for Christmas and a 6 week break in July and August.

3. PROMOTION (BRIDGING THE GAP TO THE FIRST TEAM)

The objectives to achieve the overall purpose of making a contribution to the first team are to continue the player’s development at Real Madrid, to initiate a loan and to transfer players into Real at an early age.

It obviously assists Real that their second and third team play in the professional league against other first teams: in addition they have 5 players currently out on loan with first division clubs for one season loans.

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FACILITIES

All Real Madrid’s Youth Development is now based at their new training facility ‘Ciudad Real Madrid’ located near the International Airport on the outskirts of Madrid including 10 football fields, indoor areas, gymnasia, medical facilities, TV editing suites.

SUPPORTING PUBLICATIONS

 Real issue all their registered young players with a brochure with their own name printed into the front cover and a ‘blue book’ outlining the internal regulations of the Youth Teams.

 Real also publish a unique booklet for parents to assist parents work through the demands of having a son within the Real system. The booklet deals not only with the importance of the appropriate lifestyle (e.g. hydration, diet, hygenie & sleep), the need for maintained educational focus, appropriate behaviour before,duing and after a youth game but also advice for the parent to deal with their son in coping with injured-selection and release by Real. This resource outlines the requirements of being part of this elite group and how this will impact upon the family.

CV for ALBERTO GIRALDEZ DIAZ

FECHA DE NACIMIENTO: 3/4/60 LUGAR: SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA (A CORUÑA) DOMICILIO: C/ SILVANO Nº 23 28043 MADRID TELEFONO: (00 34) 91 3889924 DOMICILIO: C/ SILVANO Nº 23 28043 MADRID

CURRICULUM ACADÉMICO

 LICENCIADO EN EDUCACIÓN FÍSICA

 MAESTRO ESPECIALISTA EN FÚTBOL

 ENTRENADOR DE FÚTBOL NIVEL III

 MASTER UNIVERSITARIO EN PSICOLOGIA

DE LA ACTIVIDAD FÍSICA Y DEL DEPORTE

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CURRICULUM PROFESIONAL

2001/06 Coordinador técnico del Fútbol base del R. Madrid.

2000/01 Preparador físico del R. Valladolid S. A. D, Primera División. Coordinador técnico del Fútbol base del R. Valladolid.

1999/00 Preparador físico del R. Valladolid S. A. D Primera División.

1998/09 Preparador físico del Sevilla C. F., Segunda División.

1996/08 Preparador físico del Valencia, Primera División. Colaborador técnico del Fútbol Base del Valencia.

1994/06 Preparador físico del R. Madrid, Primera División.

1992/04 Preparador físico del R. C. D. Tenerife, Primera División.

1991/92 Preparador físico del R. Madrid, Primera División.

1986/91 Preparador físico del R. Celta de Vigo, Primera (3) y Segunda División (2).

1986/91 Preparador físico del C.D. Manacor, Segunda B.

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