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'Spain's very own Patrick Vieira' - why Javi Martinez would be perfect for the Premier League
The Athletic Bilbao midfielder is in action against Manchester United on Thursday in the Europa League as he continues to gain admirers in both Spain and England
Mar 8, 2012 9:00:00 AM
Javi Martinez, Iker Muniain y Fernando Llorente - Athletic Bilbao
By Ben Hayward | Spanish Football Editor
The €6 million Athletic Bilbao paid Osasuna to sign Javi Martinez in 2006 made the midfielder the third-most expensive signing in the history of the Basque outfit.
Nothing strange about that, you may think ... except that Martinez was only 17 at the time. And although he was considered among the country's finest prospects for his age, the youngster had never made a single senior appearance for the Pamplona-based outfit.
But Osasuna's loss was Athletic's gain, as the Basque side saw their investment blossom brilliantly over the next few seasons. Not only did Martinez become a first-team regular and crowd favourite in his first few campaigns at San Mames, but he also became a fully fledged Spain international, too. Indeed, when he put pen to paper on a new long-term contract in the summer of 2011, he did so as a World Cup winner.
Athletic wisely moved quickly to secure the services of their midfielder ahead of the European Under-23 Championships in Denmark last summer, where a host of scouts were waiting, and witnessed Martinez captain Spain to the title with a series of mature displays in the centre of the park.
Teams from all over the continent cannot have failed to have been impressed with what they saw. But it was too late: Javi's new contract was signed in May of 2011 and his release clause set at a massive €40m.
JAVI MARTINEZ
D.O.B: September 2, 1988 AGE: 23
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CLUB STATS
LA LIGA APPEARANCES
192
EUROPEAN APPEARANCES
19
TOTAL APPEARANCES
235
TOTAL GOALS
26
INTERNATIONAL FILE
U21 APPEARANCES
24
U21 GOALS
1
SENIOR DEBUT
SAUDI ARABIA, 2010
SENIOR APPS
7
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So is he worth it? Release clauses are often inflated and do not truly reflect the market value of a player in question, often seen as a prohibitive ploy to protect the club from having to sell up. But while Martinez himself claims he is not worth €40m, in today's market such a sum seems reasonable for a player of his considerable talents.
Tall, strong, fast, athletic, intelligent and technically excellent, Martinez is a complete modern-day midfielder. The 23-year-old also exudes a calm character beyond his tender years, aided by the experience of having already turned out over 200 times in the famous red and white of Athletic.
And this season, the midfielder has featured heavily in defence for Marcelo Bielsa's side, showing a flexibility which has reportedly made him a top target for Real Madrid this summer. Martinez would be ideal alongside fellow Basque Xabi Alonso in Jose Mourinho's midfield, with his ability to track back and burst forward making him the perfect foil for the former Liverpool man.
But Martinez's boundless energy and box-to-box style make him ideal for the Premier League as well. Previously tracked by Manchester City, prior to interest from Liverpool and United, the midfielder looks to have all the attributes to succeed in the English game.
I admired him because he was a complete player. He did everything; he attacked, defended, won possession, he passed, he shot. I would be happy to be even a quarter of what he was
- Javi Martinez on Patrick Vieira
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Those signs, however, were always there. Jose Angel Ziganda, a former Osasuna and Athletic forward, saw Martinez emerge during his time as coach at the Pamplona-based side and it was he who recommended the youngster to the Basque outfit in 2006.
"I have got Patrick Vieira in my youth team," Ziganda would boast, unaware that the Frenchman was one of Javi's idols.
"I admired him because he was a complete player," Martinez later said of Vieira. He did everything; he attacked, he defended, he won possession, he passed, he shot - he was a total footballer. We are similar because of the position we play, our height and our stride, but I would be happy to be even a quarter of what he was."
Modest words, but Javi Martinez is already much more than that. And as with Vieira before him, Premier League greatness looks set to await.
Fabregas: Current Barcelona best group of footballers I've ever seen The former Arsenal star has taken the opportunity to voice his admiration of his current employers, and is impressed with the Catalans' hunger for more success
Messi's brother tattoos his arm with image of Barcelona forward Matias Messi has taken the time to praise his illustrious brother, and has stressed that there is still much more to come from his record-breaking sibling
Pique's appeal against red card dismissed The centre-back's appeal against his dismissal versus Sporting Gijon has been turned down and his one-match ban has been upheld, meaning he will miss the trip to El Sardinero
Valdano: Higuain will leave if he is not appreciated more The Argentine believes his compatriot does not get the credit his goal-scoring record deserves and is worried the forward may soon depart as a consequence
Claudio Caniggia believes that Lionel Messi needs to be more consistent for Argentina The former Boca Juniors player feels that to become a legend in his native country, the diminutive attacker needs to replicate his club performances for his country
Former Barcelona vice-president Alfons Godall: Our good relationship with the RFEF helped us in the past The 49-year-old feels that current supremo Sandro Rosell's distance from the governing bodies in the Spanish game has worked against the Catalan giants in recent matches
Ibrahimovic's agent on Real Madrid link: 'Leave me alone with this bullsh*t!' It was claimed on Friday that the AC Milan forward was eyeing up a move to the Santiago Bernabeu after allegedly falling out with Rossoneri boss Massimiliano Allegri
Luis Enrique: I'm staying at Roma for another four or five years The former Spain international has laughed off an exit despite being identified by Barca as the man to replace Guardiola should the Blaugrana boss quit Camp Nou in the summer
Real Madrid's Varane plays down comparisons with 'legend' Zidane The French defender has impressed with his performances since arriving from Lens last summer, having managed to avoid conceding a single foul so far this season
Real Betis coach Pepe Mel: If there is a way to win against Real Madrid, I will find it The 48-year-old has likened his side's clash with Los Blancos to Hannibal's war against Rome, and has backed Cristiano Ronaldo to respond to Lionel Messi's midweek exploits
Real Madrid coach Mourinho the most successful centurion in Spanish football history The Portuguese's record of 76 wins from 99 games means he already boasts superior stats to those of Los Blancos legend Miguel Munoz and current Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola
Barcelona president Rosell: Messi is the best ever The Blaugrana supremo is of the opinion that no one in history compares to the Argentine, and has urged fans to enjoy the three-time Ballon d'Or winner's performances
Real Betis striker Santa Cruz: Real Madrid wanted to sign me before I joined Bayern Munich The Paraguay international, who is set to face Los Blancos this weekend, has claimed that the Liga giants were interested in signing him before he left Olimpia for Germany
Villarreal's Rossi attacks agent for fuelling transfer talk The forward has often been linked with a move away from El Madrigal and the Italian has expressed his anger towards his representative for encouraging the speculation
Athletic Bilbao coach Bielsa: Job only half done against Manchester United The Basques notched up three precious away goals at the 'Theatre of Dreams' but their wily Argentine coach knows that their last 16 tie with the English champions is far from over
Argentina coach Sabella: We need a new adjective for Messi The Blaugrana ace made history to become the first player to score five goals in a Champions League match during his club's 7-1 rout of Bayern Leverkusen on Wednesday night
Valencia boss Emery bemoans late lapse in concentration against PSV
Los Che looked to have all but sealed their place in the quarter-finals after racing into a four-goal lead but their opponents struck twice in the closing stages
Athletic Bilbao's Llorente lauds 'unforgettable' win over Manchester United but laments late penalty
The Spain international was delighted that the Liga outfit had produced the performance they had been praying for at the 'Theatre of Dreams'
Former Barcelona striker Zaldua: Messi better than Pele, Di Stefano, Maradona and Cruyff
The 70-year-old Spaniard, who spent 10 years at Camp Nou between 1961 and 1971, believes that the Rosario native will break every record in the game
Napoli coach Mazzarri: Barcelona are 'on another level'
The Partenopei boss believes there is no stopping the Blaugrana, who completed a 10-2 aggregate win over a hapless Bayer Leverkusen side at Camp Nou on Tuesday night
Anzhi Makhachkala set sights on Atletico's Arda Turan - report
The winger only signed for the Rojiblancos last August but, according to Milliyet, the wealthy Russian club are willing to meet his buyout clause in order to bring him to Russia
Albelda: Valencia are still recovering from the Koeman era
The experienced midfielder has stated his belief that the Che still are not at the level they were before the arrival of the Dutch coach and president Juan Soler
Real Madrid's Benzema a doubt for Betis clash - report
The France international is nearing full match fitness again after a brief spell on the sidelines, but Saturday's fixture could come too soon for the forward
In Pictures: Cristiano Ronaldo wows Madrid youngsters with his football skills on set for new advert
After scoring his 38th goal of the season on Sunday in Real's 5-0 win over Espanyol, the Portuguese superstar was spotted having fun on the filming of a new campaign
Mar 9, 2012 11:00:00 AM
By Jay Jaffa
Apparently when Cristiano Ronaldo is not busy helping himself to a glut of goals for Real Madrid he spends his time masquerading as a financial adviser.
At least that is how it appeared as the £80 million striker was snapped filming a new advert for a Portuguese bank in Madrid on Wednesday.
Relax - I'm a professional | Ronaldo has figured in similar adverts since 2003
Ever the sharp operator, Ronaldo took to the Madrid streets in front of the cameras with the look of arrogance so often reserved for his many goal celebrations.
How do we know? Well, he's scored 38 goals in all competitions this season and is just ten shy of the 40 league goals he netted last year to claim the European Golden Boot.
Show-off | He took time out to entertain fans without even needing to undo his jacket
Rather endearingly, the Portuguese superstar also gave his time to the young audience in between takes, entertaining them with his array of skills.
Of course, it wouldn't be Ronaldo's style if he didn't do something out of the ordinary (see his recent back-heel goal against Rayo Vallecano as an example) and the coiffured icon preferred to dazzle the crowd with fancy footwork while remaining in his shoes and suit.
That's a wrap | Another successful day in the life of Europe's most fashionable footballer
Mourinho confident his Real Madrid will win La Liga
The ex-Inter trainer has stated that Los Blancos are favourites for the Primera Division this season, and only an unbelievable run of form by Barcelona can prevent the inevitable
'I have another grandson who is just as good as Messi,' says Barcelona striker's grandfather
Talent appears to run in Messi's family, as the Liga ace's grandfather says that the diminutive attacker has a cousin who is a star in the making
Benzema included in Real Madrid squad for Betis trip
The French ace appears poised to make a return to the team after spending the last two weeks recovering from an injury sustained during the European match in Moscow
Richard Dutruel: Barcelona will win the Champions League
The retired goalkeeper is of the opinion that Barca will come out on top of the Uefa competition, while saying that Real Madrid are not at the same level as the Catalans
Zidane: The best thing for Real Madrid is if Mourinho stays
The France legend has offered his backing to the coach, who will celebrate a major milestone on Saturday, but insisted now is not the time to discuss his future
Mourinho: Coaching Real Madrid is a fantastic and unforgettable experience
The Portuguese coach is over the moon to be in charge of the Blancos, and is desperate to win La Liga with the Spanish giants who he joined in the summer of 2010
Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas says there is "a thousand times more pressure" on football managers in Spain than there is in England.
Fabregas, who made the move from Arsenal to Barcelona in the summer, still follows the Gunners in the Barclays Premier League and believes the club's fans must show more patience and back Wenger. The Gunners are set to finish this season trophyless for the seventh straight campaign which has led to some to question the progress of Wenger's management of the club.
Fabregas has plenty of sympathy for his former manager but admits the Frenchman is perhaps lucky that he is not in charge of a La Liga side. "I still have a huge affection for the club [Arsenal] and it definitely makes me sad whenever I see them lose. But Arsene Wenger knows the club and players and will turn it around.
Being a manager is a very difficult job and you are always criticised when things don't go well," Fabregas said in the Sun. "But that happens at every club in the world and I have the perfect example of that at Barcelona, where the team has won something like 15 of the last 17 trophies yet people are now upset because this season we are second in the League to Real Madrid.
"In Spain there is 1,000 times more pressure on the manager. "In England the fans will give the boss time and remember what he has done in the years before. In Spain they don't even remember what you have done last week. It's crazy." "When I was little, Barcelona went five years without anything and it seemed like the end of the world. Now it seems they are the best team in the world. Football changes quickly. Arsenal will be back to the top soon."
Barca are 10 points behind Real in the hunt for La Liga ahead of Sunday's trip to managerless Racing Santander. With Madrid playing on Saturday against Real Betis, Fabregas and his team-mates could find themselves as much as 13 points behind their arch rival before Sunday's game.
'I have another grandson who is just as good as Messi,' says Barcelona striker's grandfather
Talent appears to run in Messi's family, as the Liga ace's grandfather says that the diminutive attacker has a cousin who is a star in the making
Mar 9, 2012 11:34:00 PM
By Luis Mira
Barcelona star Lionel Messi has a cousin who is as talented as him, the player's grandfather has claimed.
According to Antonio Cuchitini, 13-year-old Bruno Biancucchi, who plays in the youth ranks of Renato Cesarini, a club located in Rosario, has all the capabilities required to reach the same heights as the Barcelona prodigy.
"I have another grandson, from another daughter of mine, who is the brother of two kids who play in Paraguay and plays just like Lio," Antonio Cuchitini told Radio Mitre.
"My grandsons who play in Paraguay are very good. I want them all to succeed, all three of them."
But Antonio Cuchitini noted that the young Argentine is still not thinking about following in the footsteps of Messi, who left his homeland at the age of 11 to pursue his career in Europe.
"Bruno is afraid that the same thing that happened to Lio happens to him," he added.
"He is afraid that he will be taken to Europe and he is too attached to his mother."
La Liga wrap: Messi nets 50th goal in Barca win, Espanyol crush Rayo
12 March 2012
Lionel Messi notched his 50th goal of the season as he claimed both strikes in Barcelona's 2-0 win over Racing Santander on Sunday.Visitors Barca took the lead in the 29th minute of the La Liga clash at Estadio El Sardinero. Argentina forward Messi slotted home from close range after Cesc Fabregas delivered a cross to the back post.Barca kept the pressure on their hosts and they were duly rewarded 10 minutes into the second half.
Fabregas was hauled down in the box by Domingo Cisma, and Messi sent Racing goalkeeper Mario Fernandez the wrong way to score his 50th goal of the campaign in all competitions. Messi has so far scored 30 goals in La Liga, 12 in the Champions League, two in the Copa del Rey, three in the Spanish Supercopa and two in the Club World Cup, as well as one goal in the UEFA Super Cup.
The win sees second-placed Barca reduce Real Madrid's advantage back to 10 points after the league leaders won at Real Betis a day earlier.In other matches on Sunday, Espanyol hammered promoted side Rayo Vallecano 5-1 at home.The hosts led 4-0 by the half-time break at Estadi Cornella-El Prat, courtesy of two goals apiece from Kalu Uche and Philippe Coutinho.
Veteran Raul Tamudo, who made 340 league appearances for Espanyol, scored against his former team to get one back for the visitors eight minutes into the second half. But Nigeria international Uche notched Espanyol's fifth to complete his hat-trick on 67 minutes.Atletico Madrid eased to a 2-0 win at home to 10-man Granada, thanks to goals from Miranda and Radamel Falcao.
Valencia gave up a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 at home to Mallorca. First-half strikes from Alberto Costa and Aritz Aduriz had the hosts leading going into the break at Estadio Mestalla.But Emilio Nsue and Victor Casadesus both netted to draw Mallorca level during a 10-minute spell early in the second half. Valencia finished the match with 10 men following the 84th-minute dismissal of goal-scorer Costa.
Finally, Athletic Bilbao had a reality check after their mid-week Europa League victory over Manchester United, as they went down 2-1 away to Osasuna.
Lionel Messi keeps up with Cristiano Ronaldo in the race for the European Golden Shoe
The Argentine star scored both goals in his side's 2-0 victory over Racing Santander, but could not make up ground as the Portuguese attacker bagged a brace against Real Betis
Barcelona director Zubizarreta: I do not see any similarities between Guardiola and Mourinho
The Catalans' executive has stated that the two coaches are nothing like each other, and added that there will not be any news about Pep's contract renewal this week
Iniesta: Barcelona want to maintain current form until end of the season
The attacking midfielder has expressed his satisfaction with the Catalans' good performances in recent weeks, and is determined to keep it going for the remainder of the campaign
Messi hits 50 for Barcelona, but it's a happy 100 for Mourinho as Real Madrid edge closer to La Liga
The Argentine made it seven goals in two games as the Catalans beat Racing 2-0, but a Ronaldo-inspired Real stay clear at the top as the Portuguese coach celebrated a century
Barcelona midfielder Fabregas: Messi deserves everything that's happening to him
The former Arsenal star has taken the time to praise his Argentine team-mate, describing him as a player who gives an extra boost of confidence to any team
Atletico Madrid's Silvio to undergo knee surgery The Portuguese defender may be unable to take part in the European Championship after the club decide that he has to go under the knife to fix a knee problem
Barcelona's Guardiola after Racing Santander victory: Penalty was not decisive The Spanish coach underlined that his side were in the driving seat during the whole match and noted that it is hard to win against a team with such a defensive mindset
Granero: Real Madrid are leaders because we respond well in complicated fixtures The midfielder has voiced his happiness with his side's win over Real Betis, and stated that los Blancos' ability to perform when it really matters has helped them to top spot
Guardiola: Barcelona have won so much because we have been better than the rest The Catalans' head coach has stressed that they have never been gifted anything, and stated that the reason for their success is that they outplayed their opponents
My friend Sergio Ramos proved himself to be a great defender and goalkeeper, jokes Guti The 35-year-old, who previously played for the Santiago Bernabeu outfit, has shown his sense of humour in his verdict over whether the defender used his hand to keep the ball out
Real Madrid's Marcelo urges team to not get complacent The Brazilian says Los Blancos will keep fighting for wins even though they have a 13-point advantage over their nearest rivals Barcelona in the race for the title
Real Madrid's Xabi Alonso: The ball did hit my hand but the referee deemed otherwise The former Liverpool player has confessed that a penalty could have been given against him but the official in charge of the game was the one at liberty to award a penalty
Mourinho responds to Guardiola after Real Madrid's win at Betis: I don't hide my faults or my errors; others are smarter than me The Portuguese replied to his rival's admission he is dishonest by openly admitting he has character flaws which are well-documented, but insisted he is outspoken by choice
Higuain refuses to discuss future after Real Madrid's win at Real Betis
The Argentine brought his goal tally for the season up to 20 against the Andalusians, but failed to give assurances on his whereabouts next season following the Blancos' victory
Barcelona have always been honest, so I don't think Mourinho and I are alike, says Pep Guardiola of his Real Madrid counterpart
The Catalan boss condemned the behaviour of the Portuguese, insisting that he has nothing in common with the former Chelsea trainer, except for their mutual lust for victory
Mourinho: Coaching Real Madrid is a fantastic and unforgettable experience
The 49-year-old is over the moon to be in charge of the Blancos, and is desperate to win La Liga with the Spanish giants who he joined in the summer of 2010
Sevilla's Michel sure Spain will take Negredo to Euro 2012
The Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan trainer is full of praise for his striker, and despite a lot of competition, the tactician feels the 26-year-old will go to Poland and Ukraine
110 facts about Real Madrid on their 110th anniversary
From the club's formation years to the unparalleled records decade after decade, we catalogues 110 key milestones in Los Blancos' illustrious history
Mar 10, 2012 9:00:00 AM
On March 6, 2012 Real Madrid celebrated another landmark as they ushered in their 111th year.
With over a century of football, history, triumphs, records, controversies, dramas and star players, there has certainly been no shortage of highlights to choose from to commemorate the club's 110th anniversary.
So as we reach the end of the week of festivities for the Spanish side, we compile 110 interesting facts you may or may not know about Real Madrid.
1. The first direct incarnation of the club was known as Football Club Sky formed in 1895. In 1900, the club split into New Foot-ball de Madrid and Club Espanol de Madrid. The latter club's president Julian Palacios eventually led a breakaway to help create Sociedad Madrid FC on March 6, 1902.
2. Madrid CF's first two official club presidents were both Catalans. Joan Padros Rubio presided over the board from 1902 to 1904 and was succeeded by his brother Carles Padros Rubio from 1904 to 1908.
3. Three years after Madrid FC was formed, they won their first official title after defeating Athletic Bilbao to lift the Copa del Rey in April 1905.
4. Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stefano became the first player to win the Pichichi award four times in a row from 1956 to 1959. He has five wins in total.
5. Real Madrid are the only club to win the league five times in succession. They accomplished this feat twice, the first between 1961 and 1965, and the second between 1986 to 1990.
6. Madrid have never won the treble. But they have achieved the double (either La Liga plus Copa del Rey or La Liga and the European Cup) six times in the past.
EL SIETE - THE RECORD BREAKER
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7. Madrid's all-time top scorer is their iconic former No. 7 Raul with 323 competitive goals, 228 of them in the league, which is also a club record.
8. Real's biggest defeat in La Liga was against Espanyol when they lost 8-1 in 1929-30.
9. Real have been European champions on nine occasions. Their biggest win in the competition was a 9-0 victory over Danish side Boldklubben 1909 in 1961-62.
10. Cristiano Ronaldo scored Real Madrid's fastest hat-trick when he took just 10 minutes to bag his treble in the 6-2 win at Sevilla in May 2011.
11. Madrid's biggest victory in La Liga was an 11-2 win over Elche on 7 February 1960. Their biggest victory in any competition was against Barcelona when they beat the Catalans 11-1 in a Copa del Rey (known then as Copa del Generalisimo) semi-final in 1942-43.
12. Ferenc Puskas scored a total of 12 goals in the 1959-60 European Cup campaign, the most goals a Madrid player has scored in a single season in the tournament.
13. The first ever Clasico was played on May 13, 1902. Barcelona defeated Madrid 3-1 in a friendly match.
14. Between 1961 and 1980, Los Blancos were so dominant in Spain that they won 14 La Liga titles in 20 seasons. Between 1961 and 1990, Madrid won 19.
15. Miguel Munoz is the club's longest-serving coach, totalling 15 years and 604 competitive matches. He won 14 titles during that span.
16. Madrid have qualified for the Champions League in 16 seasons, the joint second-best record in the competition behind Manchester United with 17.
17. On December 17, 1922, Real Madrid saw Juan Monjardin become their first Spanish international when he played in a match against Portugal.
18-YEAR COPA WAIT OVER
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18. Madrid have claimed the Copa del Rey on 18 times and there was an 18-year gap between their last two victories, in 1993 and 2011.
19. The first-ever competitive Clasico was on May 19, 1902 in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, which Barcelona won 3-1. It was also to be Madrid FC's first official game.
20. Fifa named Real Madrid the 'Best Club of the 20th Century'.
21. Madrid FC's first game after its formation was a match between the club's members. One team wore blue and the other red. They eventually adopted their all-white shirts from London-based club Corinthians FC in 1902.
22. Madrid have appeared in the semi-finals of the European Cup/Champions League 22 times, a record in the competition.
23. David Beckham won just two trophies in his four-year spell at Madrid, claiming the Spanish Supercopa right at the beginning of his time at the capital club, and adding La Liga in his very last game for Los Blancos.
24. Raul's final competitive game in the famous white shirt was on April 24, 2010 in the 2-1 La Liga win at Real Zaragoza.
25. Real Madrid players have won the Pichichi award a total of 25 times, a record in the league. The club's first La Liga top scorer was Manuel Olivares in 1932-33 when he netted 16 goals in 14 games.
26. Madrid participated in the European Cup 26 times prior to the tournament being renamed the Champions League.
27. The 1953-54 La Liga campaign was Alfredo Di Stefano's first season as a Real Madrid player. He scored 27 goals in just 28 appearances.
ANGEL IN RED
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28. Angel Di Maria is the first player to score a goal for Madrid in a red shirt, the team's third-choice kit this season. A red-coloured shirt had only been used on three previous occasions, but Los Blancos never managed to score.
29. Madrid received their 'Real' (royal) title on June 29, 1920 from King Alfonso XIII.
30. Vicente del Bosque spent 30 years in total at Real Madrid (first team and reserve team). He won nine trophies as a player, and seven as a coach.
31. Real Madrid are the record champions in the Spanish top flight, finishing first in La Liga 31 times. Their lowest-ever league placing was 11th in 1947-48.
32. Madrid went unbeaten on their way to their first league title in 1932, winning 10 games and drawing eight in an 18-round campaign, finishing three points ahead of runners-up Athletic Bilbao.
33. Real Madrid played their first match at the Santiago Bernabeu (then named Nuevo Estadio Chamartin) in a 3-1 victory over Os Belenenses. Sabino Barinaga scored the first-ever goal at the renamed ground.
34. Although now 34, Alberto Rivera is the youngest player to debut for Madrid's first team in the league at 17 years and 114 days, beating the previous record set by Raul by just 10 days. Rivera also became the club's youngest goalscorer in La Liga when he netted in the 2-0 win over Celta Vigo in June 1995 in that same debut game.
35. Santiago Bernabeu was Madrid's club president for almost 35 years from September 1943 to June 1978. During his tenure, Los Blancos won six European Cups, 16 La Liga titles, 6 Copas del Rey, and one Intercontinental Cup. He is also credited with revolutionising Real, starting with the signing of Alfredo Di Stefano.
36. Santillana, who is the club's third-highest all-time goalscorer, retired from football at the age of 36.
37. Madrid's first-ever European Cup match was a 2-0 win over Servette on September 8, 1955.
MADRID'S MIGHTY MAGYAR
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38. Hugo Sanchez scored 38 goals in La Liga in 1989-90 to tie a Pichichi record set by Athletic Bilbao great Telmo Zarra in 1951 and which stood until the 2010-11 season.
39. Ferenc Puskas was almost 39 when he played his last season for Real in the 1965-66 campaign.
40. Cristiano Ronaldo set a new La Liga record in 2010-11 by netting 40 goals in a single season.
41. However, Marca, who awards the Pichichi prize, claimed it was 41 goals, including a free-kick which had deflected off Pepe against Real Sociedad although officially, the referee had awarded it as an own goal.
42. Madrid sold Robinho to Manchester City in 2008 for €42.5 million, the highest transfer fee Los Blancos have received for a player.
43. Real Madrid won the inaugural European Cup on June 13, 1956 by beating Stade Reims 4-3 in the final.
ZIZOU ON CUE
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44. The exact time on the clock was 44 minutes and 36 seconds when Zinedine Zidane scored his left-footed volley for Madrid in the 2002 Champions League final against Bayer Leverkusen at Hampden Park.
45. Ronaldo joined Real Madrid from Inter for €45m in the summer of 2002, fresh off his heroics for Brazil in the World Cup in Japan-Korea.
46. Jose Mourinho is the 46th different coach to have taken charge of Real Madrid. Their first was Arthur Johnson.
47. Ferenc Puskas scored 47 goals in 38 competitive games for Madrid in 1959-60, the most he scored for the club in a single season.
48. The first Real Madrid office was a boutique called 'Al Capricho', and it was at No. 48 in Alcala.
49. Raul's last competitive goal for Real Madrid came in the 49th minute in the 2-1 victory over Real Zaragoza.
50. Real Madrid legend Emilio Butragueno holds the Liga record of successive games unbeaten. He did not lose for 50 consecutive league matches in the 1980s.
51. Los Blancos were the first-ever club champions of the world when they defeated Penarol 5-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu in the inaugural Intercontinental Cup back in 1960.
52. One of Madrid's nicknames, Los Merengues - in reference to their all-white kit resembling a cake made entirely of egg white - was first coined in the magazine España Sportiva on January 3, 1917.
MADRID'S NEW GOLDEN BOY
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53. Cristiano Ronaldo scored a club record 53 goals in all competitions in the 2010-11 campaign.
54. Madrid have qualified for 54 out of 56 Uefa club competitions. They only missed out in 1977-78 and 1996-97.
55. It was in January 1955 that the club decided to rename their stadium in honour of then president Santiago Bernabeu.
56. Prior to the Santiago Bernabeu/Nuevo Chamartin, Madrid's previous grounds included the (original) Chamartin, the Velodromo de Ciudad Lineal, O'Donnell, Desmontes de Moncloa, La Estrada, Explanada de la Plaza de Toros and Hipodromo.
57. Luis Figo scored 57 goals in 239 games in all competitions during his five-season spell at Real Madrid. He only scored 45 in 249 with Barcelona.
58. In 80 seasons and 2,534 La Liga matches, Madrid have a 58.2 win percentage, having claimed 1475 victories and losing 538. They have scored 5,285 goals and conceded 2,915.
59. The Bernabeu played host to the Euro 1964 final, the 1982 World Cup final, the European Cup finals in 1957, 1969 and 1980, as well as the 2010 Champions League final.
60. Luis Figo infamously joined Madrid from Barcelona for €60 million in the summer of 2000. He is the 15th player to switch directly from Barca to Los Blancos. The first was Alfonso Albeniz.
61. Madrid defeated their own 'B' team Castilla 6-1 to win the 1980 Copa del Rey.
62. During his time at Madrid, Mesut Ozil has already changed his shirt number four times. He was given the No. 26 upon his arrival and throughout pre-season, but changed to No. 19 for his official debut. He then took over the No. 23 left vacant by Rafael van der Vaart's departure, and at the start of the 2011-12 term, he inherited the No. 10.
63. Real Madrid were the first club in the Spanish top flight to win back-to-back league titles, successfully defending the crown they won in 1931-32 the following season.
KEY MILESTONES
1. Julian Palacios helped form Madrid FC, known today as Real Madrid.
3. Madrid won their first title in 1905, three years after their formation.
20. Named by IFFHS as the Best Club of the 20th Century.
32. They clinched their first La Liga title in 1932.
35. Santiago Bernabeu served as club president for 35 years. He signed Di Stefano and kick started Real Madrid's revolution
43. Madrid won the inaugural European Cup in '56, beating Stade Reims 4-3.
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64. Ronaldo made his Real Madrid bow as a 64th-minute substitute against Alaves in October 2002. He scored twice on his debut in the 5-2 win.
65. Current supremo Florentino Perez, who turned 65 on March 8 - two days after the club's anniversary - is the only man apart from Adolfo Melendez to have served two separate stints as Los Blancos' president.
66. The Madrid that won the 1966 European Cup were known as the Ye-Ye team. This was because they had a young all-Spanish generation of players starring the likes of Amancio Amaro, Pachin, Pirri and Manuel Sanchis. The name Ye-Ye comes from the catchy chorus of the Beatles song 'She Loves You' (yeah yeah yeah) - and the team earned the nickname after four players famously posed forMarca wearing Beatles wigs.
67. Predrag Mijatovic's 67th-minute goal in the 1-0 win over Juventus in the 1998 Champions League final gave Madrid their seventh European Cup to put an end to a 32-year wait from their last triumph in 1966.
68. In 163 El Clasico encounters in La Liga, Madrid have won 68, losing 64 with 31 meetings ending in a draw.
69. Amancio Amaro won the 1969 Pichichi award by scoring just 14 goals.
70. Fernando Morientes is the last Madrid player to score five goals in a single La Liga game. He bagged his quintuple in the 7-0 win over Las Palmas in February 2002.
71. Raul is the Champions League's all-time top scorer with 71 goals; 66 of them were scored for Real Madrid.
72. Los Blancos have won 72 major titles overall in the following competitions: La Liga, Copa del Rey, Spanish Supercopa, European Cup/Champions League, Uefa Cup, Uefa Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup.
73. Madrid's 7-3 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the 1959-60 European Cup final is the highest-scoring final in the competition's history. The victory gave Real their fifth consecutive continental crown and they were thus allowed to keep the trophy.
74. Zinedine Zidane was signed by Madrid from Juventus for €74m, currently the second-most expensive football transfer in history.
75. 'Zizou' joined Juve in 1996, a year after they had won the Champions League. The Frenchman went on to play in two losing finals with the Old Lady before eventually lifting the European Cup in 2002 with Madrid.
SPECIAL ONE'S SPECIAL STATS
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76. Jose Mourinho's current 76.77 win percentage for Real Madrid is the best of any of the club's coaches who were in charge for more than one game.
77. Iker Casillas is the only remaining player from the Galactico era and the only current Madrid squad member who has won La Liga, the Copa del Rey, the Champions League, Intercontinental Cup, Uefa Super Cup, Spanish Supercopa, as well as a European Championship and a World Cup with Spain.
78. Former Madrid playmaker Guti had the name 'Guti.Haz' on the back of his shirt from 2007-08 onwards. The H in the 'Haz' stands for his second surname Hernandez, the A is for his son Aitor and Z for his daughter Zara.
79. In 2010, Real Madrid became the first club in any sport to generate a revenue of over €400m in a single year, according to Deloitte.
80. In 146 league encounters against local rivals Atletico Madrid, Real have won 80 times, losing 35 and drawing 31.
81. The current La Liga edition is the 81st. Real Madrid have taken part in all 81 seasons, the only club in Spain to do so along with Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao.
82. In the 82nd minute of the 4-2 win over Almeria on December 5, 2009, Cristiano Ronaldo saw his penalty saved by Diego Alves. That was the last time CR7 failed to convert a spot-kick and he is now on a run of 21 successful conversions in La Liga, just four behind the all-time record of 25 set by Barcelona's Ronald Koeman.
83. In the 1982-83 season under coach Alfredo Di Stefano, Madrid completed a 'bridesmaid's treble' when they finished runners-up in La Liga, the Copa del Rey and European Cup Winners' Cup.
KEY MILESTONES
44. Zidane's 44th min goal gave the club their last European Cup triumph in 2002.
73. Madrid's 7-3 win over Eintracht, regarded as the best football game ever played, clinched the club's fifth successive European Cup.
81. Madrid have never been relegated and have taken part in all 81 La Liga seasons.
89. Miguel Munoz scored Madrid first goal in the European Cup. Di Stefano scored the club's first in a final.
94. Madrid signed Ronaldo for a world record €94m.
101. Arthur Johnson scored Madrid's maiden goal. He went on to become the team's first ever coach.
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84. In the 1984-85 campaign, Madrid went nine games without a victory in the league, the club's worst winless run.
85. This season after 25 rounds of matches in La Liga, Madrid have already scored 85 times at an average of 3.4 goals per game. At this rate, they will score 129 goals by the end of the campaign.
86. In 217 official Clasico matches against Barcelona in all competitions, Madrid have won 86, losing 85 and drawing 46. Los Blancos have scored 364 goals and conceded 351.
87. During the 1987-88 season, Madrid won a club record 18 out of 19 league games at home. They would go on to repeat the feat in 2009-10.
88. Kaka has made 30 appearances in all competitions so far this season for Madrid and has provided 11 assists in total, just three shy of his all-time high in a single campaign which came in 2008-09 with Milan.
89. Miguel Munoz has the honour of scoring Madrid's maiden goal in the European Cup. Alfredo Di Stefano was the scorer of the club's first goal in a European Cup final, after his side had gone 2-0 down against Stade Reims in the 1956 showpiece event.
90. Xabi Alonso is the most expensive Spanish player that Madrid have signed. He cost the club €30m when he joined from Liverpool in 2009. Sergio Ramos is the second-most expensive at €27m.
91. With 96 La Liga goals from 88 appearances, Cristiano Ronaldo has a league-record ratio of 1.09 goals per game. The second best is Telmo Zarra with 0.91 goals per game.
92. Jose Mourinho's famous unbeaten home record in league games ran for nine years and two months before it was ended by Sporting Gijon's 1-0 win at the Santiago Bernabeu on April 2, 2011.
93. Real Madrid's own record unbeaten streak at home spanned nine seasons, lasting 121 matches from 1956-57 to 1964-65.
THE ONE AND ONLY ALFREDO
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94. Madrid paid Manchester United a football transfer record of €94m for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009.
95. Alfredo Di Stefano currently holds the record for making the most consecutive La Liga appearances for Madrid. He played 171 league games in a row spanning five years and 148 days.
96. Manuel Pellegrini set a new points record of 96 for Real Madrid in 2009-10, but it was not enough to win La Liga, nor to save him his job.
97. In the 1997-98 season, Madrid kept a club record seven consecutive clean sheets in La Liga.
98. Ferenc Puskas and Santillana are Madrid's joint-top scorers in Copa del Rey matches with 49 goals each.
99. On September 1999, Iker Casillas made his first-team debut as a substitute for Bodo Illgner in the 2-2 draw against Athletic Bilbao at San Mames.
100. On their 100th anniversary, Madrid famously lost the Copa del Rey final at home to Deportivo La Coruna.
101. Arthur Johnson scored Madrid's first-ever goal on May 13, 1902 in a 3-1 defeat to Barcelona. Jaime Lazcano scored the club's first-ever La Liga goal. Their 1,000th club goal was scored by Pahino. Gento scored their 2,000th, Juanito their 3,000th, Ivan Zamorano their 4,000th and Guti grabbed the team's 5000th.
102. Apart from Madrid's first-ever goal, the club won all of their matches when they netted their landmark goals above.
103. From September 24, 2011 to December 7, 2011, Madrid strung together 15 victories in succession in all competitions, the club's longest winning streak. Their record winning run in La Liga is also 15, set in 1960-61.
SAN IKER DEBUTS IN SAN MAMES
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104. Despite a glorious era as the club president from 1943 to 1978, Santiago Bernabeu had only eight games under his belt as a Madrid coach, winning five matches and losing the other three.
105. Cristiano Ronaldo took just 105 games in all competitions to reach a century of goals for Madrid.
106. Luis Molowny was appointed Madrid coach on four separate occasions (either permanently or as caretaker), more than any other coach at the club.
107. Madrid hold the Spanish record for most goals in a league campaign, with a haul of 107 under John Toshack in 1989-90.
108. Alfredo Di Stefano's first stint as Madrid coach lasted 108 competitive matches from April 1982 to April 1984. He won 63 games, drew 23 and lost 22.
109. Di Stefano returned to the Madrid hot-seat from November 1990 to March 1991 and picked up his only silverware as coach when he won the Spanish Supercopa.
110. As they celebrate their 110th anniversary, Madrid are first in La Liga, 10 points clear at the top and have won their last 10 Primera Division matches. They are also chasing their 10th European Cup/Champions League success this term.
Kaka: Real Madrid can do something big in the Champions League
The Brazilian midfielder is confident about his side's chances in the top European competition, while heaping praise on midfielder partner Ozil and coach Mourinho
Tino Costa denies calling for Valencia president Llorente and coach Emery to be sacked on Twitter
The Argentine midfielder has claimed that he accidentally retweeted a post calling for the pair to step down after Sunday's disappointing La Liga draw with Mallorca
Wenger accuses Busquets of simulation
While he is full of praise for the midfielder's ability on the ball, the Gunners boss believes that the Blaugrana man is always trying to con the referee into dishing out cards
Arsenal & Real Madrid target Yann M'Vila will leave Rennes this summer - Antonetti
Manager Frederic Antonetti confirms that the promising French midfielder will depart the Ligue 1 club at the end of the season, despite his contract running until 2015
Barcelona coach Guardiola wants to avoid AC Milan in Champions League quarter-finals
The two clubs were paired together in the group stages, with Barca only managing a draw at home to the Rossoneri before defeating the Italians 3-2 in an epic tussle at San Siro
Javier Clemente: Messi is the best I have ever seen
The Sporting Gijon head coach was full of praise for the Argentine superstar, proclaiming him the world's greatest ever player after his two-goal showing on Sunday
Messi: Guardiola is more important to Barcelona than I am
The Blaugrana boss is out of contract at the end of the season and has yet to give any indication as to whether he will sign one of his customary one-year extensions
Butragueno: This is probably Real Madrid's best-ever squad
The former Spain international is full of praise for the current side, and feels the people at Santiago Bernabeu have not seen a team of similar quality before
Barcelona confirm Abidal will undergo liver transplant
The France international made a remarkable recovery from surgery to remove a tumour to play in the Champions League final last season, but will have to go under the knife again
Sanchez & Alcantara resume Barcelona training
The talented pair have spent the past few weeks on the sidelines due to injury, but both are nearing a comeback and expect to be available for Pep Guardiola's selection soon
Real Madrid keeping tabs on Benfica midfielder Witsel - report
The Belgium international has been in fine form for the Portuguese outfit both domestically and in Europe, catching the eye of the Santiago Bernabeu giants
Mourinho's brand new Kaka - Hard work paying off as the Brazilian starts to fulfill his promise that he'll 'triumph' at Real Madrid
The 29-year-old turned in a man-of-the-match display in the Champions League win over CSKA Moscow on Wednesday night and earned high praise from his coach afterwards
Dani Alves: I intend to retire at Barcelona
The Brazil international has expressed his desire to stay with the Blaugrana until he hangs up his boots, but refuses to rule out the possibility of a transfer
Higuain: I was never worried about my Real Madrid future
The Argentina international has stressed that he feels fine at the Blancos, and was very pleased with his side reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League
Real Madrid's Marcelo unworried about prospect of meeting Barcelona in Champions League The Brazilian full-back declared that Madrid must beat any team that they are drawn against and insisted that the result was the most important thing in the match against CSKA
Kaka played his best games at AC Milan, but he has never worked harder, says Mourinho The Portuguese coach believes that the 29-year-old's display rewards him for his commitment, stressing that the midfielder is putting in more effort than ever before in his career
Athletic Bilbao's Llorente passed fit for Manchester United clash The Spanish club have received a timely boost ahead of their crucial continental match as the in-form striker has been given the green light to feature against the Red Devils
Mascherano: I owe Guardiola so much and want him to stay at Barcelona The versatile Argentine midfielder credits the Blaugrana boss with turning him into a more complete player since his arrival at Camp Nou from Liverpool in 2010
Venables feels Barcelona coach Guardiola could take sabbatical With the successful trainer yet to sign a contract extension at Camp Nou, the former England boss feels that a year off may be a realistic option for the Catalan tactician
Espanyol keen to keep Inter starlet Coutinho The Barcelona-based club's director, Ramon Planes, has expressed his wish to extend the on-loan attacking midfielder's stay at Cornella into next season
Xavi: Guardiola and Messi equally important to Barcelona The Spain international midfielder has voiced his opinion that the two influential figures are both essential in the Catalan team's record of success over recent years
Abramovich should follow Manchester United & Barcelona blueprint in building a club - LMA chairman Howard Wilkinson Russian oligarch told to take heed of long-term strategies at the reigning La Liga and Premier League champions but believes Manchester City are already copying their neighbours
Out with Shakira and out of favour with Guardiola - but Pique is being groomed as Barcelona's next captain The defender has upset his coach after failing to obey club rules this season, but his long-term future at Camp Nou is intact as he is expected to succeed Carles Puyol as skipper
Ramon Calderon: Real Madrid's defeats against Barcelona were 'humiliating'
The ex-president was very critical of the club's defensive mindset against the Catalan club, while warning the fans that Mourinho will soon embark on a new challenge
Barcelona vice-president Carles Villarrubi: Pep Guardiola will stay
The Blaugrana official is confident that the highly rated coach will commit his future to the club and expects that it will not take long for the 41-year-old to do so
Cristiano Ronaldo 'happy' for history maker Messi
The Portugal international claimed that he is not solely motivated by goals and insisted that he was enthused by his rival's heroics against Bayer Leverkusen last week
Cristiano Ronaldo rules out AC Milan move
Rossoneri owner Silvio Berlusconi recently stated that he would love to bring the Portugal international to San Siro, but the forward insists he is happy in the Spanish capital
Pedro Leon bemoans Mourinho's treatment of Albiol
The on-loan Getafe winger is displeased that his former team-mate's hopes of representing Spain at Euro 2012 have been jeopardised by his lack of game time at the Santiago Bernabeu
Xavi: Barcelona are underappreciated in Spain because of Real Madrid rivalry
The 32-year-old is of the opinion that the club's achievements recently continue to be undervalued domestically because so many of the nation's football fans support Los Blancos
Cristiano Ronaldo: Mourinho will stay with Real Madrid
The former Manchester United player has brushed aside speculation that his compatriot will leave then Spanish capital club at the end of the campaign and head back to England
Mourinho insists his future at Real Madrid does not depend on Champions League success
The Portuguese trainer has made it clear that he intends to stay at the Santiago Bernabeu regardless of the result of the game against CSKA Moscow on Wednesday
Iniesta: 'I want to be remembered as a player who is completely devoted to Barcelona'
The attacking midfielder revealed that he wants to be remembered for his commitment to the club, and once again stressed that he hopes Pep Guardiola will stay with the Catalans
Dani Alves: Messi will win the Ballon d'Or again in the next four years
The Brazil international believes that his team-mate will lift the individual trophy several more times over the next few seasons, and has praised head coach Pep Guardiola
Sevilla's Jesus Navas doubtful for Barcelona match - report
The 26-year-old attacker picked up a minor knock at the weekend and may have to sit out of the upcoming match against the Catalan giants at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan
Barcelona's Rosell labels Guardiola-Pique reports as slander
The chief of the Catalan club has guaranteed that there is no tension between defender and coach and blasted the TV channel for reporting 'lies' revolving around the club
Cerezo: It was Sergio Aguero's fault that he did not leave Atletico Madrid the right way
The Rojiblanco supremo blasted the striker's silence towards his former club, while saying that he expects Atletico to go through in the Europa League
Mar 14, 2012 7:58:00 PM
By Luis Mira
Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has blamed Sergio Aguero for the transfer saga involving the striker prior to his transfer to Manchester City.
The 23-year-old player had become a fans' favourite at the Vicente Calderon, but he aired his wish to leave Atletico at the end of 2010-11 before joining City in a €45 million deal.
Cerezo has always said that he lamented Aguero's attitude during his transfer saga, which lasted almost two months, and he has now indicated that the Argentine owed an explanation to the club and supporters.
"We have a great affection for him, he was the fans' favourite player of all time," Cerezo is quoted by AS as saying.
"He did not leave Atletico the right way and it was his fault that this did not happen.
"He could have left perfectly well and with the support of the fans, but up to this day, we have not heard anything from him."
Atletico have taken a big step towards reaching the Europa League quarter finals after a 3-1 victory against Besiktas in the first leg of their tie, and Cerezo is confident his side will go through in the competition.
"I am convinced that we will progress," Cerezo added. "We must take precautions, though, just like we would against any club who play in Europe, because they have great players and anything can happen.
"But if we play like we have been doing we will not have any problem."
Messi: I have yet to reach my peak
The three-time Ballon d'Or winner racked up his 51st goal of the season in Saturday night's win over Sevilla, but the Argentina international believes that he is still evolving
Iniesta reaches 50-match unbeaten streak in La Liga following Barcelona's victory over Sevilla
The Blaugrana's 2-0 win at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan means the Spain midfielder has now appeared in half-a-century's worth of games in the league without experiencing defeat
We want Abidal to live the best life possible, says Pique after Barcelona's win over Sevilla
The stopper was quick to dedicate Saturday's win against the Andalusians to the Frenchman, who will undergo a liver transplant, before speaking of his side's title chances
Messi hails Premier League duo Rooney and Aguero
The 24-year-old has expressed his delight at the praise he received from the Manchester United striker after breaking the record for goals scored in one Champions League game
Messi: I want to retire at Barcelona
The current Ballon d'Or holder has said that he feels Pep Guardiola's side are the greatest of all time, and that he has no intention to leave Camp Nou during his playing days
Childhood friend to act as donor for Abidal's liver transplant - report
The France international, who had a tumour on his liver removed last year, must undergo surgery again and there are doubts if he will ever return to competitive football
Real Madrid's Di Maria to return to training next week
The Argentina international has been out of action since the tail end of February with a troublesome thigh injury, but is now expected to return to first-team duty next month
Mourinho wishes Barcelona's Abidal 'a long and happy life'
The Barcelona full-back needs another liver transplant, and the Portuguese trainer has put sporting hostilities to one side to wish the defender the best of luck
Real Madrid supporters group agree with Mourinho that Santiago Bernabeu can lack atmosphere
The Portuguese coach has been critical of the capital side's home faithful in recent times, and a representative of the fans has agreed with the ex-Inter trainer
Roma prepare summer bid for Villareal's Rossi - report
The Italy international has been on the sidelines for the bulk of this season with a knee injury, but with the Yellow Submarines in free fall, Luis Enrique's men want the attacker
Barcelona's very own 'Saint' Patrick - how a little-known Irishman kept the Catalans afloat in war-torn Spain
Patrick O'Connell coached Barca in the late 1930s and helped save the club from economic ruin during the Spanish Civil War; some 75 years on, few people know about him
Francesco Coco: Barcelona are the strongest team in the world
The retired defender thinks that the Blaugrana are more likely to progress, but warned the Blaugrana against the threat posed by the Rossoneri and star player Ibrahimovic
Barcelona legend Estanislau Basora passes away aged 85
It is a sad day for the Blaugrana family, as one of the club's most iconic figures died from a fatal heart attack suffered earlier in the month
Real Madrid willing to listen to loan offers for Sahin - report
The Spanish capital club reportedly feel that the Turkish midfielder is not yet ready to be a part of the squad and will try to let him gain experience elsewhere
Chile's Borghi: I have no interest in arguing with Pep Guardiola over Alexis Sanchez
The Argentine coach did not wish to start a war of words with his Barca counterpart and stressed that his main concern is that the 23-year-old is able to play
Benzema wishes 'brother' Abidal speedy recovery from liver transplant
The Real Madrid striker is praying that in spite of reports his international colleague might never play again, the Barcelona defender will soon return to competitive football
Guardiola: Athletic Bilbao's Bielsa 'the best coach on the planet'
The Argentine is drawing widespread praise for the way in which his Basque outfit outplayed the reigning Premier League champions over two legs
Guardiola: Renewing Abidal's contract underlines Barcelona's greatness
The France defender recently penned a new deal with the club, even though there are doubts over whether he will ever be able to return to top-flight football
Butragueno: Mourinho will honour Real Madrid contract
It was reported in January that the coach has decided to quit Los Blancos at the end of the season - but the former Spain forward is confident the former Inter boss will stay
Real Madrid's Casillas: I have never seen anyone play at the same level as Cristiano Ronaldo
The highly-rated custodian was lost for words to describe the Portuguese ace, while stating that the criticism targeted at Chelsea striker Fernando Torres is 'unfair'
Barcelona offer Keirrison to Coritiba - report
The Brazilian striker has failed to impress since moving to Europe in 2009, and a new loan spell appears to be the likeliest solution to his situation
Barcelona maintained their impressive form with a 2-0 victory away to Sevilla on Saturday, while Granada and Rayo Vallecano also won.Visitors Barca dominated proceedings early on at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, and they were rewarded when Xavi Hernandez curled home a free-kick to make it 1-0 in the 18th minute.
It was 2-0 seven minutes later, with Lionel Messi playing the ball through the legs of Emir Spahic, before beating Sevilla goalkeeper Andres Palop with an exquisite chip.Sevilla had their chances to get back in the game - Manu del Moral hit the bar after taking advantage of a Gerard Pique error in the 33rd minute.
At the other end, Palop did well to keep out a Cesc Fabregas shot in first-half stoppage time.Manu went close again for Sevilla on 65 minutes, narrowly failing to connect with Jesus Navas' delivery.Andres Iniesta shot wide from close range with 17 minutes to go, while Messi had a late strike ruled out for offside.
Barca's sixth consecutive victory in all competitions sees them move to within seven points of league leaders Real Madrid, who host Malaga on Sunday.Elsewhere, Rayo Vallecano were comfortable 3-0 winners at home to fellow promoted side Real Betis.Goals from Emiliano Armenteros, Diego Da Silva Costa and Raul Tamudo, all in the second half, did the damage for hosts Rayo at Campo de futbol de Vallecas.
The other team to be promoted last season, Granada, were also victorious, as they downed Sporting Gijon 2-1 at home.First-half goals from Carlos Martins and Guillherme Siqueira earned Granada an early 2-0 lead, with Adrian Colunga pulling one back for the visitors in extra-time. Granada finished with 10 men after goal-scorer Martins received a straight red card in the 94th minute.
Bottom side Real Zaragoza passed up the chance to record a much-needed win, as they drew 1-1 at home to Osasuna. Strugglers Zaragoza took the lead through Helder Postiga in the 86th minute of the match, but surrendered their advantage just 60 seconds later, with Roversio levelling for the visitors. Finally, Inigo Martinez's own-goal gifted Real Sociedad a 1-0 win in their match away to Getafe.
Barcelona's very own 'Saint' Patrick - how a little-known Irishman kept the Catalans afloat in war-torn Spain
Patrick O'Connell coached Barca in the late 1930s and helped save the club from economic ruin during the Spanish Civil War; some 75 years on, few people know about him Mar 17, 2012 9:00:00 AM
By Ben Hayward | Spanish Football Editor
Saturday marks St Patrick's Day and almost every Irish bar in Barcelona will screen the Catalans' clash at Sevilla in La Liga before celebrations continue well into the night. But without one dedicated Irishman, FC Barcelona as we know it today may not even exist.
Patrick O'Connell was a rugged central defender and journeyman pro who captained Ireland and turned out for a host of different clubs, including Belfast Celtic, Manchester United, Sheffield Wednesday and Dumbarton. But his most important contribution to modern day football would come in Catalunya.
O'Connell left Ireland in the midst of the devastating Civil War and began a new life in the north of Spain as coach of Racing Santander in 1922, winning five regional titles at the Cantabrian club before a move to Real Oviedo and subsequently, Betis.
It was in Seville where Don Patricio cemented his growing reputation as he led Betis Balompie to the league title in 1934-35, still their only Primera Division crown.
Barcelona would then come calling. O'Connell was very much a man in vogue after leading Betis to La Liga and although appointed in Catalunya for his revolutionary coaching methods, it was O'Connell's work away from the training pitch which helped safeguard the future of today's most successful club.
Keeping watch | O'Connell takes training at Les Corts
He returned from a summer break in Ireland to sign for Barcelona in 1935, only days after Catalan nationalist politician Josep Sunyol had been installed as president of the club. He led the club to the Campionat de Catalunya title in that first season and saw his side miss out in the final of the Copa de Espana, narrowly losing to Real Madrid.
But football took a back seat in February 1936 as a coalition of Communists and Socialists swept to power in Spain. And with that, the threat of war grew closer as sectors of the military masterminded a coup and an uprising ensued in July of 1936.
Facing financial ruin in war-torn Spain, Barca met to discuss cost-cutting measures. The board told their Uruguay international Enrique Fernandez to take an extended break in his homeland, while Hungarian midfielder Elemer Berkessy was released to save further funds.
But Barca still needed to retain a coach. O'Connell was asked to stay put at the Catalan club, although he was warned he would have to take a cut in pay in order to continue at Les Corts. Otherwise, he was free to leave. Paddy, however, was not in it for the money; he knew a thing or two about nationalism from his own time in Ireland. He sympathised with the Catalan cause and he remained.
Playing against Republican rivals, Barca claimed the Mediterranean League after national fixtures were suspended in 1936-37, but all was not well away from the field. By then, Sunyol had been assassinated by the fascists and many football fans neglected the sport during the war.
PATRICK O'CONNELL - AS A COACH
Ashington
Racing
Real Oviedo
Real Betis
Barcelona
Real Betis
Sevilla
Racing
Times were hard and they were getting harder. There was concern that the club would go under, despite the efforts of O'Connell and his board to keep it afloat. They battled manfully to save the club and fortune, as it turned out, would favour the brave.
Seemingly out of the blue, Barca received a lucrative offer to tour Mexico and the United States. They duly accepted and the club coffers were boosted by the tidy sum of $15,000 which, in true Catalan style, was shrewdly saved to guarantee the future of the club and wisely wired into a bank account in Paris - far from the reach of their fascist foes.
O'Connell led the club on a memorable tour in North America - even taking groundsman Angel Mur to work as a masseur. Barca were well received in Mexico, where they were greeted by dignitaries and Spanish exiles, and admired for their free-flowing football in games against America, Atlante, Necaxa and a Mexican XI. A successful spell in New York followed, with fixtures against Brooklyn Hispano, Brooklyn St Mary's Celtic and an American Soccer League XI concluding the tour.
Later, however, the Barca players were grimly informed they could either return to civil war-ravaged Spain or have their contracts rescinded and remain in exile. All but four did so. But Barca's legacy grew under O'Connell, a fundamental figure who led the club with dignity and distinction. He aided the Catalan cause with gentlemanly gestures and positive propaganda during turbulent times, helping to make their North American tour such a success and nurture the future legacy of a club admired across the world today.
O'Connell died a poor man in London in 1959, having left Barca following their tour in 1938. He later returned to the south of Spain with Betis and subsequently, Sevilla, leading the latter to second and third-placed finishes before handing over to his technical secretary, Ramon Encinas, who led the team to the championship in 1946.
So it is perhaps fitting that Sevilla and Barcelona should meet this Saturday, on St Patrick's Day. And a shame that not many people present at the Sanchez Pizjuan or watching in Catalunya will remember O'Connell, Barca's very own 'Saint' Patrick.
Barcelona's orange and yellow second shirt for next season is leaked
The Catalan club have already upset some of their fans with an unusual blurry design set to be used next season as their home shirt, yet the second strip is even more off the wall
Mar 15, 2012 5:00:00 PM
By Ben Hayward
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Several weeks after Barcelona's home kit for 2012-13 was leaked on social networking sites, an image of the Catalan club's second strip for next season has found its way onto Twitter.
The traditional red and blue stripes will give way to a blurry design for next term with one thick red stripe down the middle and blue either side. The image has done the rounds on the Internet and upset many fans, who have voiced their criticism of the new shirt.
But the second strip, a bright orange and yellow number, is likely to cause even more controversy. Here is an image of the Catalans' second shirt for 2012-13, with thanks to @sergiomagda on Twitter. See what you think ...
It's the Russian beauty occasionally seen on the arm of Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo as we move into the top tier of footballers' wives and girlfriends
Mar 16, 2012 5:30:00 PM
By Jay Jaffa
Today's WAG comes within the 'creme de la creme' bracket. Irina Shayk is a Russian model in her own right, but especially famed amongst football fans as Cristiano Ronaldo's girlfriend.
The same Ronaldo who helped knock out Russian side CSKA Moscow in the Champions League. A side who Shayk might possibly have heard of and - at a stretch - support? No, this is getting far too tenuous. Shayk may hail from Russia but she resides in New York and has an amazing ability to find her way into every glossy publication around.
When she isn't cosied up to the second-best footballer in the world ("Messssi, Messssi, Messssi!"), Shayk tends to either be modelling swimwear, strutting down a catwalk or looking pretty at awards ceremonies.
The biography on her Facebook page is quite simply the sort of gold in which we delight over at Extra Time. Allow me to introduce her career resume:
"In 2007 Irina became the face of Intimissimi lingerie, being perfect for it with her body of a goddess and Mediterranean looks."
There's self-promoting and then there's this! "The body of a goddess". Wow. I know what you're thinking - "She does have a body of a goddess!" - and you'd be right. It's just the sheer audacity of it. That's the kind of arrogance that could rival only one other human ...
Ronaldo - possibly the most arrogant-looking footballer to ever play the game. They are PERFECT for each other!
Neymar rejects Real Madrid as Barcelona lead the race for the Santos forward
Los Blancos had been in pole position to sign the Brazilian, but the youngster was dissuaded by the arrogant attitude of Florentino Perez and the Catalans plan to take advantage
Messi one goal away from becoming Barcelona's all-time top scorer
It had been assumed that Cesar Rodriguez had netted 235 official goals for the Blaugrana, but a study has revealed that the all-time top scorer netted 'only' 232
Barcelona coach Guardiola: Ibrahimovic is 'a leader at AC Milan'
The 30-year-old forward had a turbulent one-season spell in Catalunya and subsequently went public with his criticisms of the Blaugrana boss in his autobiography last year
Barcelona coach Guardiola gives up on La Liga: 'Impossible' to catch Real Madrid
While the Catalans reduced their deficit to Los Blancos to just eight points over the course of the weekend, the Blaugrana boss has already thrown in the towel
Mata: Torres will be at the European Championships
The former Valencia star thinks that his compatriot will have a great end to the season and will be rewarded with a place in La Furia Roja's squad for Poland and Ukraine
Uefa president Platini: Messi is a killer
The France legend was lost for words to describe the Argentine prodigy but noted that the entire Barca team show the same level of enthusiasm on the pitch
David Villa receives 1,000 paper cranes from Barcelona's Japanese supporters
The Catalan club's Japanese fans have put together a gift for the striker as he goes through the final stages of his recovery after suffering a serious injury in December
Hierro: Barcelona against Real Madrid could decide La Liga
The former Spain international has voiced his opinion that the encounter between the two Liga giants could be decisive in deciding where the league trophy ends up
La Liga is definitely not over, says Real Madrid legend Emilio Butragueno
The Blancos legend believes the club have not won the Primera division just yet despite holding a comfortable lead over their Catalan rivals at the summit of the league
Spanish third division player survives heart attack a day after Fabrice Muamba collapses at Tottenham
Sergio Granero passed out on the pitch on Sunday after taking a blow to the jaw and went into cardiac arrest, but is making a full recovery in hospital
Casillas: 'I don't care what Guardiola says'
The Spain No.1 has assured he is not getting distracted by the Barca coach's view of the title race and stressed that the Blancos never thought they had won the league
Lionel Messi edges closer to Cristiano Ronaldo in the race for the European Golden Shoe
The Argentine superstar scored a sumptuous goal in his side's 2-0 victory over Sevilla to edge closer to his Portuguese rival in the race for Europe's top goal-scoring prize
Pellegrini: It would be strange if Real Madrid weren't champions
The Malaga coach feels that it would be a surprise if the Santiago Bernabeu side were to throw away their lead in the league table after his team earned a point versus Los Blancos
Manchester United defender Vidic: It frustrates teams that Barcelona always have possession
The Serbian defender believes that the Catalans' style of play makes it very difficult for opposing teams to cope with as he hailed Pep Guardiola's side as a "great team"
Miguel Angel Lotina named new Villarreal coach
The Yellow Submarine have found a replacement for Jose Molina only one day after his dismissal following the defeat to Levante
Real Madrid show their class off the pitch with Abidal & Muamba T-shirt tribute, but fail to do so on it as Liga lead over Barcelona is cut to eight points
Jose Mourinho's side saw their advantage at the top of the table reduced after Santi Cazorla's free-kick equaliser in added time renewed hopes of a Catalan comeback in La Liga
Xabi Alonso rues Real Madrid's missed chances against Malaga
The holding midfielder feels that the Blancos should have put the match to bed after the break against the Andalusians after producing numerous scoring opportunities
Cristiano Ronaldo: Malaga draw no reason to worry for Real Madrid
The Portugal international has stressed that the Blancos are still in the driver's seat to win La Liga, but admitted that they did not expect to be held by the Andalusians
Mourinho: Referee should have given Real Madrid two 'enormous' penalties
The former Inter boss has voiced his opinion that the Primera Division leaders were denied two clear spot kicks in their 1-1 draw versus Malaga
Emery pleased with Valencia display versus Athletic Bilbao
The Che coach has expressed his satisfaction with his side's performance in Sunday's La Liga game, and felt the victory was a real confidence boost
Real Madrid players wear t-shirts supporting Abidal and Muamba
The Blancos stars wore jerseys in support of the Barcelona defender and the Bolton player, who have both had serious health concerns ahead of their Liga meeting with Malaga
Abidal trains for Barcelona on Sunday as Afellay returns from lengthy layoff
The Frenchman needs a liver transpant but took part in Sunday's session, while his Dutch team-mate is drawing closer to a return following a lengthy spell on the sidelines
Villarreal sack Jose Molina after Levante defeat
The Yellow Submarine have dispensed with the services of the 41-year-old coach after a series of negative results ahead of the visit of Real Madrid
Daniel Alves plays down Guardiola remarks: Barcelona will keep fighting
The Brazilian defender is refusing to throw in the towel and stressed that he will only admit defeat when his side are mathematically out of the race for the league crown
Athletic Bilbao's Llorente: Bielsa is key to our success
The 27-year-old striker heaped praise on the highly-rated coach and agreed with the notion that the Argentine is the best trainer on the planet
Valdes dedicates Barcelona win at Sevilla to Abidal
The France international's career is in the balance after it was announced on Thursday that he needs a liver transplant, almost exactly a year after having a tumour removed
Real Madrid show their class off the pitch with Abidal & Muamba T-shirt tribute, but fail to do so on it as Liga lead over Barcelona is cut to eight points
Jose Mourinho's side saw their advantage at the top of the table reduced after Santi Cazorla's free-kick equaliser in added time renewed hopes of a Catalan comeback in La Liga
Mar 19, 2012 9:00:00 AM
By Ben Hayward | Spanish Football Editor
It was a symbolic gesture. On a weekend in which football had taken a back seat following the shocking scenes at White Hart Lane as Bolton's Fabrice Muamba suffered a heart attack on the pitch, plus revelations on Thursday that Barcelona's Eric Abidal needs a liver transplant, Real Madrid showed a touch of real class with a T-shirt tribute to both men on Sunday night.
Madrid's players posed with messages of support on their shirts for the duo: "Get Well Soon Muamba" and "Ánimo Abidal". But unfortunately for the capital club, they were unable to replicate that class on the pitch itself and saw their 10-point lead at the top of La Liga cut to eight following Santi Cazorla's stunning free-kick equaliser in added time.
The Colombian temptress shot to fame through her musical talents before coupling that with charity work and a relationship with Barcelona and Spain centre-back Gerard Pique
Mar 19, 2012 11:00:00 AM
By Jay Jaffa
Gerard Pique is a fortunate man. He escaped embarrassment on Saturday night after a rare comical defensive lapse for Barcelona but more pertinently, he is with Shakira. That makes him ultra-fortunate.
The Colombian blonde has been with Pique for over a year now and the two have become a celebrity couple in Spain and beyond. With his global fame as the ball-playing centre-back of one of the greatest teams of all time and her success as a musical icon (for some) and a philanthropist, they make a great combo. There's not a hint of sleaze or controversy about them.
Shakira was made a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2006 to top off an impressive array of roles in the charitable realm. The 35-year-old has since become synonymous with football as the girlfriend of Pique and also recorded the official World Cup song for the 2010 tournament in South Africa.
She helped present the Ballon d'Or at the award ceremony in Switzerland back in January, leading to one of my all-time favourite moments as FIFA President Sepp Blatter initiated an on-stage dance.
The awkwardness of the situation seemed quite fitting following Blatter's bumbling reign but hats must be doffed to Shakira for handling it as well as anyone could hope.
Chainmail | Prepped for her next meeting with Sepp
