The story can start with what Jonathan Woodgate said on the day he played his first game for Real Madrid, only the words he used at the time cannot be used here, in La Liga. Shortly after meeting with Athletic Bilbao in September 2005, cursing was heard under the main stands at the Santiago Bernabeu as the English defender was still trying to figure out what was really going on, and not without reason.
"What a debut!" At the very least, he said, it was a sentence that could be published. This is also true. Woodgate arrived at Real Madrid in August 2004, but instead of getting better, his injury worsened, and he waited 516 days to actually play for Real Madrid. Within 25 minutes, he inadvertently hit a brilliant fish leaping header that flew past Casillas and into his own goal. In the 44th minute, he received a yellow card, and the phrase kept in his mind: "Don't get another yellow card, don't get another yellow card, don't get another yellow card." At 66 minutes, he got another one. Scoring an own goal and being sent off: that's also a way to start.
Woodgate played just nine La Liga games for Madrid before returning to England. Thus, the legend that English players could not qualify in Spain spread. Recently, with the arrival of Jude Bellingham, it made a comeback. It's time to correct it.
It was the British who first brought football to Spain, and one of Madrid's early teammates described Arthur Johnson as "the only one who knows what he's doing, someone who takes football very seriously; So serious that he got married on Saturday and came to play the next morning. Johnson even posted notes about the game in local media aimed at speeding it up because he was irritated and spent too much time chatting and smoking. But if the British were experts then, now the situation is different.
When Bellingham recently arrived in Madrid, he became the sixth Englishman (and seventh) to play for the club since La Liga was founded in 1929 and the first Englishman to play for the club since Woodgate and Michael Owen joined David Beckham 19 years ago. His arrival also bears witness to the age-old saying that English footballers can't succeed in Spain and you'd better not touch them — and discussion of why. In addition to the excitement, the only reason some suspect the midfielder from Stobbridge seems to be that he is from Stobrich. In a funny and brief interview, former Madrid and England manager Fabio Capello claimed the lack of joy in the English players.
If all this is true, then everything is fine.
English players may not always be so good at travelling. What's more, for economic reasons, they did not always travel often, despite a series of signings in the mid-80s of the 20th century. Some of them had a huge impact, were hailed as stars, and left a lasting legacy: but without Christo Stoichkov or Luka Modric, Michael Laudrup or Predragg Mijatović. Perhaps for a large part, because they do not always last long and do not feel that Spain is where they belong.
Perhaps most striking is the fact that even if the British can hold out for so long, it seems that few will stay for more than a few seasons. Fewer people stay after retirement. All of this changes the way they are remembered.
However, the accusations of failure are flawed. The last Englishman did win the league, and Kieran Trippier was not alone. Gary Lineker was Barcelona's top scorer – until Cruyff showed up and secured him on the wing. Vinny Samweis may have been sent off on his debut, but he was loved at Las Palmas. Liverpool-born Republic of Ireland international John Aldridge became the first foreign player for Real Sociedad in 30 years, and he was a revelation that was truly transformative. Another Irish international born and raised in England, Michael Robinson, has perhaps become the most popular man of any nationality in the country.
As for the Madrid player, Laurie Cunningham won the league, played for Atlético Gijón and Rayo Vallecano and started his life in Spain until his tragic death in a traffic accident in 1989. His son Sergio still lives in the city. After Cunningham's death, Real Madrid president Luis de Carlos said: "Some players are born under the stars, others are born on Earth. However, although a broken toe was the start of his injury problems, he was still the one who received a standing ovation from Barcelona fans in a national derby.
David Beckham scored in just 126 seconds on his debut and eventually won the league title in 2007, ending two exciting six-month periods in his Spanish career. Although Irving has only lasted a year and seems to have made a decision too early, he has a higher percentage of goals per minute than anyone else. Woodgate's brief appearance amid increased injury injuries to club management and pressure to be forced to play early showed what he could become. One of his teammates at the time even insisted that he was actually their best defender: Biselgio Ramos is better.
There is also Steve McManaman, who joined from Liverpool in 1999. By the time he left again, he had already won two league titles, two European Championships, a word of choice and a large number of friends. In Paris' 3-0 win over Valencia, it is no exaggeration to say that he was the best player on the pitch and the scorer with a brilliant volley. However, his performance was not as good as the goal he had against Oviedo.
With the help of Santie Solari, who speaks fluent English, McManaman quickly settled in and found his place. It's almost as important as football, maybe even more so. Finally, it's about the experience, it's about life.
That's why the concept of success sometimes has to be redefined, but in fact, it's also why too many Britons can't find their place here. This may be part of the reason Gareth Bale is not always welcomed as he deserves. As if injuries, absences, that sense of distance, refusal to cooperate, catering to anyone, the "Wales, Golf, Madrid" flag – a phrase he never actually said – was more important than everything he had won. And, by God, he won a lot. Not so long ago there was a phrase suggesting that Eden Hazard was becoming like Bell; He is already half done. This is not a compliment, but a compliment. It's also ridiculous. Eden Hazard can only dream of half of Bell's achievements.
But there is something other than the pitch, which is why Robinson is probably the most successful of all those from England; Why, despite these goals, Owen doesn't feel comfortable because he's stuck in a hotel with small babies and lights out; And why Woodgate felt good, he learned the language and embraced the experience, being welcomed by his teammates. Despite the hardship - being secretly forcibly brought back under the knife - who could laugh at it then, even if everything went wrong that day, who still can. It's not just football. "One hundred percent," Woodgate said.
Of course Woodgate wanted to race, and of course there were always regrets and pain, but he took something with him. For him, the injury also becomes an obligation and an opportunity: it gives him time, freedom and immersion, the opportunity to be understood and expressed. Working closely with his physiotherapist and teammates every day, he quickly learned Spanish. Sometimes, he would drive around to see where the car would take him, and only turn on the sat nav again when he got home. If there is a proposal, he always accepts it. If there is any joke, he will always get involved. Even if he didn't fully understand.
Woodgate said: "My advice to players who come to Spain is to learn the language as quickly as possible and assimilate into the local culture through constant effort. "As long as you try, it's okay to make mistakes: they don't mind."
McManaman would agree. Of course, it's different now, but there are lessons, there is a way to go, and it's not about football – although you'd better be good at that as well. If McManaman would have one piece of advice for Bellingham, it would be to arrange your home immediately.
"It goes without saying that you should learn the language, although now you have people to translate, pay your bills, do laundry, take care of everything for you, and there are a lot of English-speaking players. But the important thing is that "this is what happens after training and you and your family have a home to go to." Hurry up, hang up your clothes, take off your shoes, take a walk, and see this place," McManaman said.
Sometimes it's as simple as enjoying it. You play for Real Madrid; You also have to live with it.
Article source: 68 Sports