Picture this. I'm 12 years old, sitting in front of my dad's computer playing Championship Manager. I'm the first team coach of FC Barcelona, and my team is loaded with some of the biggest names in the sport. When I'm not sitting in front of the computer, I'm watching football on TV, and now, 14 years later, I'm on an airplane seat headed to Spain to see these stars in person – my dream was about to come true.
I was given this opportunity by LaLiga through a partnership that Soccer Laduma has struck with them. The trip to Europe was my second for the year, having been in Germany with the Bundesliga in March. I had some idea of what to expect, but my mind was absolutely blown. If I could feel the intense and hostile atmospheres at big LaLiga games through the television set more than 11 000 kms away, what was seeing the Madrid derby live going to be like? I could only wonder…
I arrived on Tuesday afternoon, welcomed at the Madrid airport by a lovely woman named Natalia holding up a LaLiga poster. I'd never felt prouder. That sign was for me. Still on the high of randomly bumping into Belgium manager Roberto Martinez in Frankfurt just hours earlier, I knew this media visit was going to be successful. I couldn't stop myself from imagining who else I might meet on this once-in-a-lifetime journey.
After checking in at the hotel and meeting the other journalists from around the world who'd be my colleagues for the next week, we were taken to LaLiga's head office. There, we were given an in-depth look into the league's unrelenting effort into growing its brand further. In Spain, LaLiga has reached every corner of every city, but they're aiming higher. LaLiga wants more. As technical as the football is on the field, precise is the organisation beyond it. LaLiga values the fan, it's the importance of you and I that keeps this division determined to expand.
Our first stop the next day was Estadio Municipal de Butarque, the home of Leganes, where communications and marketing manager Victor Marin showed us around. We all fell in love quickly. The humility and passion of those who work for the club is infectious. In me, they've gained a fan. After Leganes, we were taken for a lovely lunch at Labola Taberna, before we met up with LaLiga ambassadors Milinko Pantic, former Atletico Madrid player, and Fernando Morientes, former Real Madrid and Liverpool player, for a tour of the city. Not the worst tour guides, right?
On Thursday, our first stop was Getafe. We toured the Coliseum Alfonso Perez and the club's training ground, where I spotted something interesting. Every first team player on the training field helped move and carry the goalposts to another field, which is perhaps not something you'd expect to see at this level, or at least I wouldn't have. Then… it was the breathtaking Santiago Bernabeu, the holy grail. The home of the biggest and most recognisable brand in world fooatball – Real Madrid. We were greeted at the door by Roberto Carlos, yes, you read correctly, then given a stadium tour. The trophy room, the dressing room, the dugout, where many greats have sat. Ronaldo Nazario, who one member of staff called "the real Ronaldo", Zinedine Zidane, and of course, Cristiano. That night, we brushed shoulders with the likes of Carles Puyol and Samuel Eto'o at the LaLiga ambassadors event, which resulted in me not getting great sleep that night! I'd just met my heroes, the guys who made me fall in love with the sport!
On Friday, ahead of the anticipated Madrid derby, we were given a special tour of the incredible and grand Wanda Metropolitano, the innovative new stadium that sits around 67 000 people, before heading out for lunch and a chat with author and journalist Sid Lowe. The food! Oh, the food. We then attended Diego Simeone's press conference at Atletico Madrid's training ground, before watching the first team train for 15 minutes! Joao Felix, Diego Costa, all within an arm's reach.
Saturday, our last full day in Madrid, was the big day! First, Getafe host Barca. Second, Atletico host city rivals Los Blancos. In what was a tidy performance, the Blaugrana managed a clean sheet for the first time in the league this season with a 2-0 win at Getafe! Goals from Luis Suarez and Junior Firpo secured an important three points for the Catalan giants. Lionel Messi didn't play, but all the other big names were on show. Straight from the Coliseum, we were taken to the Wanda, where we were given an unexpected VIP experience! Free food, free drinks, and the best seats in the house, seats that overlooked the entire stadium. Despite the score ending 0-0, it was the best time of my life. The first-class treatment, the electric and tense atmosphere, the whistles and jeers for Sergio Ramos and Thibaut Courtois, the silky-smooth football played by both teams, the cheers for an Atletico player whenever he'd win the ball back for his team, just the whole mood of the place from the first minute to the last. Words can't do my feelings justice. It was emotional, it was surreal.
Thanks to LaLiga, I've realised a dream. If someone told 12-year-old old me he'd one day be in Spain with the country's top division to watch and be given a behind the scenes look into what Spanish football is all about, I'm not sure I'd have believed them.
Adios,
Kurt
