Audi 2007 Annual Report Download - page 115

want to win, but always keep pushing right to the end.” Ball
possession is a crucial part of the Real philosophy. “You can
only score goals if you’ve got the ball,” says Victor. Manage-
ment keeps an eagle eye on the progress of each player. The
boys themselves are regularly informed of their stage of devel-
opment. Victor tells us: “We players are given clear targets,
both regarding our playing abilities and our fitness levels.”
Currently 16 players have even moved forward a year early.
From the beginning, the ultimate goal is right in front of their
eyes: To go through the B team, Castilla, to get to Real’s
A team. “I absolutely want to play in the Bernabéu at some
point,” says Victor. His role model is defender Sergio Ramos.
“An uncompromising, very modern defender. I think he’s
really impressive.”
Up-and-coming talents like Victor are often impressively
precocious; however, this can be problematic if their expecta-
tions grow as fast as their professional abilities. The physical
proximity to megastars like Robinho or Arjen Robben, who
train just a few meters away, can easily raise imaginations too
high. In addition, Real Madrid is a religion in Spain. Even
young players at the club are looked up to, and run the risk of
seeing themselves as The Chosen Ones. “Above all, we have to
make sure that they keep their feet firmly on the ground,” says
Míchel. For this reason, the club prefers to let the players live
with their families. “We have decided against setting up a
boarding school for all players,” though the club has an agree-
ment with a school in central Madrid that houses 26 older
players whose families do not live in the capital. Though the
club sees a player’s family as a bond with reality, sometimes
it doesn’t work that way. “We are always having to bring over-
enthusiastic fathers back down to earth,” says Míchel, who
maintains as much contact as he can with the boys’ parents.
The school also employs two psychologists who coach both
the children and their parents.
Psychologists, a whole crew of trainers, and a state-of-the-art
medical center: Real Madrid is spending big money on new
talent. The training complex in Valdebebas is a mecca for
youth soccer. But its eleven pitches are just part of the plans
for the facility. It will include hotels, museums, Real’s own
TV station, extra sports facilities, a stadium for Real’s interna-
tionally successful basketball team … the Ciudad Real Madrid
is to become a world-class sports complex, covering no less
than 125 hectares. •
Alexander Gutzmer is a business writer who has been covering
management and brand creation in professional soccer for years.
The car for the stars
For several years, Audi has been Real Madrid’s car of
choice. The players’ favorite model is the Audi Q7.
Audi’s soccer family not only includes the current
Spanish champions but also German record holders
FC Bayern Munich along with FC Barcelona, Manchester
United, Ajax Amsterdam, Olympique Lyon and Red Bull
Salzburg. Players and officials of 2007 Champions
League winners AC Milan have also been driving Audi
models since early 2007.
01
03
06
01
The galácticos in training:
Madrid will soon expand
up to the gates of the
Ciudad Real.
02
Deadly marksman: Real
superstar Raúl is everyone’s
role model.
03
The big goal ahead: Young
players aim to play in
the Bernabéu stadium
eventually.
04
Start them young:
Little ones learn fastest.
05
Big on character:
José Miguel González,
head of the academy.
06
Clear objectives:
The little ones need to im-
prove their fitness, too.