Having delivered tiki-taka and a generation of players that dominated world football for almost a decade through a system based almost exclusively on ability, Spain is rightly seen as the home of technical football. Out of this success a culture has developed that is appreciative of the aesthetic and confident that the best results can be achieved through the domination of possession. Fueling this culture are coaches who bring the ideology to life. Ismael Díaz Galán is typical of this class. His experiences might have been limited largely outside the Primera Liga but he is a deep thinker about the game and a keen educator who is eager to share the vision that lights up Spanish football. Blueprint for Football: What made you want to be a football coach? Ismael Díaz Galán: I did not choose football, it chose me! After trying to seduce me from the pitch I decided it was time to try from outside and for the past thirty years I have been trying not to disappoint. BfF: Do you have a philosophy of football? What is it? IDG: We all have it, even those who say that they don’t. It is what guides us in life, it is the theory of what we believe to be true and therefore also in football. Those who know me know that my way of understanding the game is just as much about how I understand life. As such I do not hope for a win, I aggressively try to make it happen by keeping hold of the ball more than not; creating a collective intelligence that makes us stronger as a group without diminishing individual creativity. BfF: How did you develop it? IDG: Living. Feeling. All this by watching, reading, talking, looking at what others are doing and what they are doing to my team. Adapting to different ideas given the reality that I was working in.
BfF: What do you do to keep learning? IDG: Keep my eyes open and, even more so, my mind. The human brain is like a parachute, it only works if it is open. BfF: You coached Luis Enrique when he was a child: was his talent always obvious? IDG: So, I met "Lucho" when he was playing the youth team with which I was a co-ordinator. His talent was obvious but he always was a very strong competitor. He also had great tenacity and determination. He came over the rejection for being too small and not physically strong. He was let go and did so well in his new club that the side that had let him go was forced to take him back. BfF: Have you followed your career? Do you get some satisfaction knowing that you have helped? IDG: Yes of course, as all players who I had the satisfaction of working with. We help them all; there are none who are considered more important than others. BfF: How much you learn during coaching courses and really learn how to train the players? IDG: During coaching courses you get the tools to make your way but you have to decide which is the method that is most suitable for you to be consistent with your way of thinking and feeling. Starting from the coaching course is when the real learning begins. BfF: You've worked in several clubs: what are the first things you do when you take a job? IDG: Soak in your new reality: your environment, its structure, facilities, staff and, especially, the players. I like to know as much as possible about each one. In order to get them to perform to their full potential I have to know as well and as precisely as possible about each one.
BfF: How important is winning the confidence of the players in your capacity? How do you do it? IDG: It is the most important thing. The coach works for them and not the other way round. This does not mean that you have to treat them as figurines (i.e. you are afraid to do anything to them) but knowing that to achieve your objective it is fundamental that you get the most out of everyone. That is the first thing and for that you have to know them well. The second is that you treat them honestly and fairly. BfF: What is more important: the tactical system you want to play or change the system to suit the players you have? IDG: Many have ideas of how to play. They copy the wrong things by watching people and their winning tactical manoeuvres without understanding what lies behind them. Systems are created through the inter-relationships between the different parts of the team. As players are human beings the best system is that which is flexible to adapt to any situation and rigid enough so that everyone moves in unison. BfF: What does a coach today to succeed? IDG: First of all know what success means for them. We are not all the same. It is easier to know your way if you know where you have to go and what you want to achieve. After that you have to be honest with the game, consistent with your ideas and how you feel. Finally, do not betray players in the desire to be better.
BfF: Knowing that your job is at risk if you do not get the expected results, how hard is like a coach to give opportunities to young players? IDG: One of the great truths of being a coach is the risk. If you do not assume this then you’re lost. To move forward you have to risk. You have no guarantee of the outcome of a decision before you take it. It is the same with young players. The big advantage with them is that they are an investment in the future. That said, you should never use them simply to win points with those surrounding the club. They never disappoint me. In all my teams I’ve played young players and they’ve always repaid the confidence shown in them. BfF: How important is a coach to the success of a team? IDG: The game of football is based on players. The role of the coach is to create a team that plays well together. BfF: You’ve worked outside of Spain: what did you do to adapt to a new country? IDG: Learn as much as possible as soon as possible. The customs, the language, how players think and their technical ability. On top of that develop as much as possible my ability to communicate in order to make myself understood. This not only has to do with the language but in the manner that work has to be carried out in order to develop. BfF: What has been the greatest satisfaction you've had in your career? IDG: Making players happy with my work. In that manner we all lived through Malaga’s promotion, a title with Sporting Gijon’s B team, remaining in the Portuguese top flight with Farense, in the Kazak top division with Kairat and in the Spanish Segunda Liga with Palencia…. Those are the big achievements that make you feel good about your profession and help you in the difficult moments.
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BfF: And the biggest lesson? IDG: Humility. The coach is the most disposable element in a football team. We have to learn this and try not to put too much importance to ourselves. BfF: What has been the biggest disappointment? IDG: I cannot point to one particular instance. I suppose that they are all related to people in whom I had confidence and trust and how betrayed me. BfF: What goals do you have in your career? IDG: Keep growing in everything that I without losing myself. For more information about Ismael Díaz Galán follow him on Twitter or else check out his website.
By Kevin Graham Guille Fernandez hit the headlines in the UK when he signed for Ryman League South team Guernsey FC back in July. The Spaniard has been a big hit with the Channel Islanders in his first few months there and, given my more than passing interest in Guernsey football, I was keen to catch up with Guille to find out about his experience so far, and dig a little deeper into his thoughts on how English football culture compares with the Spanish football
Blueprint for Football: How have you settled into life in Guernsey? Guille Fernandez: I’ve been very busy so I haven’t yet had the chance to really experience many parts of the island lifestyle! My family visited the island recently and it was the first time I had been able to explore the coastline and some of the historical sites of interest.
I work at a local hotel, I play and train for Guernsey FC and I also coach in the GFA’s academy. My employer is very helpful allowing my working hours to fit around my football.
In terms of adapting to life here, my team mates, coaches and the many people involved in Guernsey FC and GFA football have really helped – they are very friendly and I am lucky to play with a group where the spirit is so strong and supportive. It helps that the Guernsey FC environment is such a strong organisation – the coaching staff are very good, all the support staff and volunteers do a wonderful job, the club is run very professionally and has a great media presence locally too. It is very impressive for a club that is not professional, and I have been made to feel very welcome.
BfF: Can you tell us about your background? GF: I was born in Madrid but moved to Benidorm where I grew up from the age of two. I grew up playing football there before moving back to Madrid to become part of Atletico Madrid’s youth system, where I stayed until I was 19. I then played in the Divisions 4 and 5 of the league system in Spain for Villalba and Las Roczas, during which time I enjoyed three promotions as well as playing in the play offs for promotion to the 3rd Division. This was all part time and, though we were paid, due to the financial crisis the money was not enough to live on and so I also worked as a coach as well as in the football media.
I did some coaching work for Real Madrid and that was how I came to be in Guernsey, whilst doing some coaching in the summer of 2014.
BfF: So how has your experience been of playing Ryman league football in the English non-league pyramid, and how does that compare to your time in the Spanish lower leagues?
GF: Firstly, the pitches are generally bigger and better. In Spain, many of the pitches are small and of poor quality, so the football often adapts by being more direct and teams playing off the second ball in the opponents’ half. The best teams did play good football and as you went up to the Third and Second divisions, the facilities were better so all teams played more of a passing style of football.
Ryman league football is ok, some teams do play good football but the game is quicker, less patient and also more aggressive when teams are out of possession –the defensive aspects and challenges are more physical.
BfF: How about the culture and behaviours you see? GF: There is more respect in the English game. Despite the game being more physical, the individual duels are forgotten straight away – players show respect to each other and after the games there are no problems. Maybe the coaches are not always the same, particularly during the game from the sidelines, but the players I think are very respectful of the game compared to Spanish players.
BfF: How about Guernsey FC? How do you see their style of play and compare that with your opponents? GF: We have good technical players, and Tony (Vance, Guernsey FC Manager) likes to play attacking, possession based football – other teams sometimes do but sometimes are more direct.
Playing for Guernsey FC is difficult sometimes though as we never have the same team for away games due to player availability and even training is affected because the players have to give up so much time from work to play the games. If we had the same team and had more stability we are a very good footballing side. We could develop more together with our style of passing and movement.
BfF: And how about English football in the media? How does that compare to Spain? GF: I love Match of the Day! It is much better than what we have on terrestrial TV in Spain. The analysts are good, I like that they stop and pick out key moments in the game, it’s great! Our (Spanish) football shows have too many analysts and they all have their own favourite teams so it is not a balanced view. Spanish people also focus on the celebrity lives of the players too much – it should be about the game! Monday Night Football on Sky Sports is also good to watch – very detailed.
BfF: You coach kids in the GFA Academy – how is your experience of coaching in English football? GF: Well I think in Guernsey we are lucky, and maybe have better options for kids than in England perhaps (outside professional academies). The coaches and facilities here are very good for children.
I do think that the players should play together more though – from ages 12-16 teams in
Spain train together 3 times a week and play matches too. Here the players train two or three times but with different groups and coaches (for instance club, school, academy and performance group). I think a player learns and improves more from September to May if they work in a group and stay together. The next season it can change and a different coach or team mates can help the development but not when it is changing every week. But I know that is difficult here because we live on an island and the possibilities are not the same as they are in Madrid for example. BfF: So let’s talk philosophies and playing styles – you are a central midfielder who likes to get on the ball and dictate possession and are always calm when you have the ball. I can draw comparisons with some top Spanish players here like Xavi, but is that how you think the game should be played? GF: For me, Pep is the man – I am a Real Madrid fan but Barca under Pep, that was something! I think you need to ensure the team is constantly moving, that passing options are always there and that when you lose the ball you get it back quickly – press, press, press! That team was beautiful, probably the best ever for me. Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets – so simple but so much better than the others. Real Madrid have no footballing identity – so for me it’s all about Pep!
BfF: But nothing in this game is new, right? Guardiola’s way isn’t completely new surely? GF: Maybe not the principles, parts of which had been used before by great teams, but put it all together his way and wow! I played the football against teams that Barca B played against but they were so good, so much better. And he had the confidence to put Busquets straight in, replacing big players like Yaya Toure, straight from the 4th division? He knew how good he was.
And now at Bayern he is playing with two at the back – always making things better and being different.
BfF: Do you have any other coaches you admire? GF: I liked Benitez at Liverpool – he is not the same as Pep but their pressing game under him was excellent, I mean the team with Alonso, Kuyt, Gerrard...lots of energy even if Rafa is not in the same style as Pep.
I also love Paco Jemez at Rayo (Vallecano) – he is crazy but does things his way. He takes a team to the Camp Nou, gets beat 6-1 but does it his way – crazy high press, very ambitious and very attacking but it works against the teams lower down and he doesn’t just park the bus against Barca and Real. I love that!
BfF: So you wouldn’t play a deep block like maybe Mourinho’s Inter against Barca in the CL semi final a few years ago? GF: (smiling) If I was boss? No, never. Kevin Graham made more than 200 appearances for a number of clubs in the upper reaches of the non-league pyramid (Whitby Town, Guiseley AFC and Goole AFC). He is now working as a coach and a football writer. You can follow him on Twitter here.
When Luis Aragones was appointed as manager of the Spanish national team, it was something of an awkward choice. Here was a man whose philosophy revolved around a strong defence and a reliance on counter attack who was suddenly being put in charge of one of the finest group of attacking players in the history of the game. On top of that, Aragones was 66 years old when he was put in charge; surely too old an age for him to change his ways. Even if, in truth, age was not the determining factor here: pride would also have prevented many younger men from making that change. Change he did, however, slowly adopting the short passing and high pressing game that was bringing Barcelona so much success. He was still very much his own man, dropping a legend like Raul – previously considered an untouchable - in favour of Fernando Torres, who knew what he wanted. But he was intelligent enough to realise that his way wasn’t necessarily the only way. There is sometimes the misplaced belief that a coach changing his mind is a sign of weakness. People are expected to have a view of how the game should be played and stick to it throughout their whole career. It is, however, a flawed way of seeing things because there is no such thing as a universal truth. A coach will, for sure, have a favoured way of playing but like any view that should be allowed room to evolve and grow based on what he sees and experiences. It is what Luis Aragones did and it is what set Spain up for a decade of unprecedented domination of world football. Taken from the most recent issue of Blueprint for Football Extra. To read more articles like this one, subscribe here.
Ambition. There are still some people who see that as a dirty word, particularly for coaches involved in youth football. These should be content with the age category they are assigned to look after and not aim to achieve anything more than that. For some that works and there are indeed coaches who feel most comfortable coaching particular age groups and whose effectiveness would suffer were they to be moved to a different group. Many others aren’t like that, however, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Just as any player should have a target to work towards, so too should coaches. Unless they have an ambition that drives them forward they cannot progress. And, for some, that ambition might be of working at a higher level than the one they’re currently in. Pedro Mendonca is one such coach. At the moment he is working with the Real Madrid foundation but he is aiming to achieve much, much more than that. Here’s a look at his blueprint… Let's start with the basics: what got you into coaching and how long was that? Since a young age – around 8 years - I played football for FC Porto first and then SC Salgueiros. Then, when I enrolled in the Physical Education and Sports University, I specialized in football whilst becoming a Physical Education Teacher as well. In 2007 I got the opportunity to be coach of FC Avintes a woman’s team in the he 2nd Division of the Portuguese league. That was a very good experience especially as it allowed me to realise that I liked coaching and had the ability to coach. After that I’ve trained boys from U13 to senior teams at a number of clubs like CD Candal; Lusitano FC; Algarve United and the Real Madrid Foundation. Have you had any mentors in your career? I have had the good fortune of working with some excellent persons and very good coaches. However, the people who have most influenced me were Professor Vitor Frade and Professor Juan Jose Gonzalez Badillo. Professor Vitor Frade is the creator of the Tactical Periodization, a training methodology for football concerned with the tactical aspects of the game and the creation of a Game Idea that fits the Players and the Club. In one word: Specificity. This is a methodology that is actually utilized by José Mourinho. The other main influence is Juan Jose Gonzalez Badillo, my professor in Master of Physical and Sport Performance, at the Pablo de Olavide University in Seville because he opened my eyes as to how Sports Science could be applied to football and the physical needs to play football. I think this contrast of Ideas is very important for my coaching philosophy. What is your coaching philosophy? At a senior level I believe that we have to work on the tactical aspects of the game. Everything has to be done in relation with the game that we want to play. However, it is a game that the players like to play and fans likes to watch. As for the physical aspects, this would be more centred around injury prevention and recovery. With respect to playing style I believe in an offensive team, capable of scoring many goals and gives a good time to the spectators. Is winning important for you? At a senior level it is very important but playing good, attractive football is very important as well. In young age groups it is not as important. Indeed, at an early age it is more important to develop the players. That said, in the most of clubs, the importance is on winning. For me that is an error because this way the coaches will be more concerned with the results than with the process of developing players for the future. To do so, they end up privileging the physical players and not the intelligent ones. What are the most important attributes of players in your teams? That the players like to play and enjoy training is important at a senior level. Then it is important that they are good teammates, capable of creating a rich environment to develop a team. One of the most important things for players is their intelligence; the ability to make good decisions in the game. They must know the game and its principles of play. Finally, it is very important that the players have an excellent relationship with the ball which is acquired in early ages. You're currently at the Real Madrid Foundation in Portugal. What is it that you do exactly? At the Real Madrid Foundation I’m the coach of the football team in the Portuguese School in Algarve. Here we work with kids from 6 to 12 years who have some problems like behavior problems, learning difficulties, obesity, integration issues, bad economic conditions which means that they don’t have money to play for other club and so on. We try to use their love for the game and for Real Madrid to improve the lives of these kids. Our slogan is: “They Play, We Educate”. Beyond the Tactical, Technical, Physical and Mental aspects of football adapted to the age of the kids, we incorporate in every training sessions the Real Madrid Foundation Values: Respect, Autonomy, Motivation, Equality, Self-Esteem, Health and Fellowship. In what way does football help children with behavioral problems? Football is very much important for these children. Usually all the children love football so when these children with behavioral problems are playing they have to adapt to the rules of the game and to the principles of living in a society (group of players) to can play. This way they have to demonstrate self-control and have ability to resist to frustration for when they concede a goal or when an opponent takes the ball from them. These capacities trained in the football game will then become adopted in everyday life.
Is there added pressure given that you are representing Real Madrid? I’m representing Real Madrid Foundation. When we are in Real Madrid Foundation we have always to respect the Principles that we teach to children. It can be difficult for some people to live with this responsibility. However for me it’s easy because I believe in these Principles of Real Madrid Foundation and apply in them both in the teaching sessions and in my daily life. In Portugal as well as in Spain there is a very good history for producing very technical players. Is there anything special that is done that result in such players? In Portugal we love good football and we’re always seeking players with ability to dribble past others. Since a young age, kids are encouraged to go into 1v1 situations and develop the ability to control the ball. Another important aspect in Portugal is that all persons are fans from one of the three great clubs (FC Porto, SL Benfica and Sporting CP), which means that every person like an attacking and attractive style of play. This aspect has influenced the type of football we like and this way the kids are molded for the future. What do you want to achieve to be satisfied with what you have done in your coaching career? My goal is to be capable to work exclusively in football. At the moment I have the UEFA Basic Coaching Course and in January I’ve begun the UEFA Advanced Coaching Course in Spain. In the next years I want to be assistant manager for one of the great coaches who can teach me more things about this fantastic game. Then I want to be a manager in the English Premier League, win a UEFA Champions League and also win a FIFA World Cup. For more interviews like this one, join Blueprint for Football Extra (for free).
Given that he had a team that contained the talents of David de Gea, Thiago Alcantara, Iker Muniain and Isco, it is tempting to assume that Julen Lopetegui's job as the Spanish Under 21 manager is a fairly easy one. Yet there was more to Spain as they won their second consecutive European title then a collection of talented players; their typical play based on short passing and intense pressure placed those talents in a position to excel. Again, the temptation is there to generalise and assume that a Spanish national team playing that kind of football is a given; that it is automatic. Yet it is not. Players spend only a fraction of their time with the national team and during such restricted time-frames it is practically impossible for them to 'learn' a method of playing. So how do Spain manage to play in that manner? An explanation was provided in part by Lopetegui himself who said "We have a crystal clear philosophy on how to play football...ultimately for all Spanish national team football we want to have many players near the ball, and we want players with great technical repertoire. That is why we include players with these qualities." That then is the secret: a system built around a specific type of player and a type of players that make the system work. The starting point, however, is to have an idea on how the team should be playing. "For me, it’s the basic," says Jordi Pascual a Catalan coach who has written books about the Spanish style of play. "If a coach doesn’t have a very clear idea about how his team is going to play, how can he prepare the activities when training? What is he going to say to the players? Of course, it’s clear that you have to know the players that you have, as not all them can play the same way. But it’s not “this” or “that” style. It’s to have “A” style, no matter which one."
Pascual is a coaching veteran with the current one being his 24th season as a coach. "I started coaching when Johan Cruyff arrived at FC Barcelona. So, the “Dream Team” and the “possession style” is the biggest influence I have had," he says. What he has learned, he is trying to share through his books. "It’s about developing a way of playing," is how he describes his latest contribution Developing a Style of Play. "That means that from the moment you choose a style (whatever it is: possession, counter, direct, etc.), with the formation used, roles and responsibilities of players and the way of training it. I’m always going on that the training has to be according how you play. This means that the exercises, activities, drills have to be prepared accordingly. Train as you play." As the Spanish experience highlights, it is not simply a case of deciding a set way of playing and enforcing it on players. "The most normal thing is to look for players that fit to the idea (style), but you’ll have to adapt. More or less, but you’ll have to do it." This also requires flexibility so that systems can be change when new players come it. "You always have the “big picture” in mind but at the same time adapting it to the new players you have. Not all wingers are the same, as not all central midfielders or players in whatever position. So, you have to adapt." Nor is it possible to simply copy what the Spanish or the Germans are doing. "Nothing can be copied," Pascual confirms. "You can take ideas from here or there but finally you, and your players, of course, will make an “own” style. It can be similar to this or that but it won’t be the same as any other. Always we - all of us - have to adapt to what we have." Adapting and realising what their way of playing was certainly helped the Spanish evolve from the historical failings of the Furia Roja (Red Fury) to the success of tiki-taka.
"I think that the key point was to believe in the model: “this is what we do and we are not going to change it”. Add to this some players incredibly gifted to play football plus some coaches not being afraid to put young players in the squads and, probably, you’ll have the answer." As Pascual noted, it helped that Spain began developing some fantastic players. "I suppose it has something with the players," he says as he tries to determine how come so many creatively brilliant players emerged. "Spanish people are, in general, smaller than in other countries of Europe so, they have to use the “weapons” that they have: ability, gamesmanship, etc. Also, football has been played for many years in the street. But, of course, I think there are many different aspects, as can be good coaching or the classical 'latin improvisation'" What is certain is the lack of attention devoted to the physical strength of players. "What importance do I give it? None. Football is a global concept. This means that you can’t separate technique, tactics or the physical. All go together and must be trained together. You play football, so you have to train football. In this aspect, I’m a big fan of Mourinho when he says that a pianist doesn’t do laps around the piano for warm-up, so, why should football players have to run laps around the pitch?" Jordi Pascual holds UEFA “B” and UEFA “A” licenses, together with a “Monitor Course” (similar level to UEFA “C”) awarded by the Catalan FA. He also holds a Degree and Masters in Management of Clubs attained at a private coaching school in Barcelona. He is also the author of two books Coaching Spanish Soccer and Developing a Style of Play as well as writing on his blog Football Pirineus. Have you signed up for Blueprint for Football Extra yet?
Following Barcelona's elimination from the Champions League, and given the manner of that elimination, there was a rush of people eager to claim that this signaled the end of tiki-taka. Hardly surprising as this is what always happens when a once dominant team suffers such a heavy defeat with some taking delight in declaring a particular era as dead.
In truth, whilst it might be that Barcelona will struggle to reach the heights that they had scaled in the recent past, what we're witnessing is simply an evolution in tactics. Barcelona made successful a particular way of playing and now others are adapting it so that it works better when allied to their own characteristics.
Yet tiki-taka will never die. It will evolve and change, of course, but it will never die: too many people and too many teams have been influenced by it for that to happen
Now you get teams like Wigan, Southampton and Swansea that are set out to play football and who get results by doing so. It is in such teams that Barcelona's echo will survive.
Naturally, however, for such teams to be able to do well they need players who can play such a style of football. And, to paraphrase Martinez, such players must be able to think what they're going to do with the ball. There will be increasingly less room for robotic; mechanical players.
Which is why, increasingly there will be less room for those aiming to develop robotic; mechanical players. Barcelona's period of domination might be coming to an end but the revolution they've brought about in how the game is played and players are developed will echo for a long time yet. This article was originally sent out to subscribers of Blueprint for Football Extra.
