Not so long ago, Navas was known as much for the panic attacks he suffered on being away from his family as his sprite-like runs down Sevilla’s wing. But having overcome his travel phobia through some sympathetic treatment with the national squad during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, it’s the opposition defenders who now do the panicking when they see Navas galloping towards them with the ball. … [Read more...] about Jesús Navas
Archives for March 2011
Sergio Ballesteros
Not many teams beat Real Madrid these days and not many defenders outsprint Cristiano Ronaldo. But Levante and their club captain Ballesteros have managed both this season. Weighing in at 90 kilos (200 pounds), the 36-year-old not only still has his legs, but has also led his ageing teammates on an incredible run, defying pre-season predictions that his team were relegation fodder and topping La Liga for a few heady weeks. And they manage all this on a diet of pizza, beer and paella. Old school, in every way. … [Read more...] about Sergio Ballesteros
Gérard Piqué
Barcelona’s Piqué started life as a centre-forward, which might explain his ease on the ball, even when under pressure from La Liga’s most fearsome strikers. And for a 24-year-old, he’s seen a bit of the world, having served an apprenticeship at Manchester United and caught the attention of Colombian songstress Shakira. Despite his many distractions, the Mango-attired, pop star-dating Piqué remains Europe’s most cultured central defender. … [Read more...] about Gérard Piqué
Pep Guardiola
He made his name as a midfield general for FC Barcelona in the 1990s. But Guardiola’s true calling, it seems, is getting the best out of players as their coach. In his first season in top-flight football management, Guardiola led Barça to the Champions League, Copa del Rey and Liga titles - losing his hair in the process. In the two seasons since, he has won a pair of league titles and the European crown again, relegating Real Madrid to also-ran status. Few soccer jobs are as intense or demanding, especially when you throw in the fact that FC Barcelona is a flagship for the restive Catalan nation. As a former Barça player and a Catalan, Guardiola knows this better than anyone, making his … [Read more...] about Pep Guardiola
Alberto Contador
Those seeking a role model might baulk at the three-time Tour de France winner being included on a list of sports stars. There was his unseemly via-the-media spat with Lance Armstrong during and after the 2009 Tour and then an ethically questionable breakaway from rival Andy Schleck during the 2010 race, just after the Luxembourg rider’s chain came loose. And let’s not forget the clenbuterol doping case from the same year hanging over this cyclist from Pinto, Madrid, who insists he tested positive after eating some contaminated meat. But if you had to choose the world’s most talented road racer, especially if you throw some mountains into the mix, then Contador’s your man. … [Read more...] about Alberto Contador
Pedro de la Rosa
Pedro who? Yes, De la Rosa is known as much for his career as a test driver for the likes of McLaren and Sauber as he is for his occasional appearances as a competitive Formula 1 driver. The extremely talented but uncharismatic Fernando Alonso is a more obvious choice if you’re looking for a Spanish motor racing star. But in a sport where being a self-obsessed, whingeing playboy is virtually in the job description, De la Rosa has always displayed a refreshingly down-to-earth attitude and saint-like patience as he plays second fiddle to the big names. … [Read more...] about Pedro de la Rosa
Marta Domínguez
Long-distance runner Domínguez has won a steady stream of medals at major competitions ever since taking bronze at the 1998 European championships in the 5,000 metres. Probably the high-point of her career came 11 years later, when she won the 3,000-metre steeplechase gold at the Berlin World championships. The low point was in 2010, when she was arrested for allegedly peddling illegal substances as part of a massive doping ring. But she notched up another victory a few months later, being cleared of wrongdoing and exposing the Guardia Civil as a band of confused Keystone Kops. … [Read more...] about Marta Domínguez
Rafa Nadal
Spain’s best tennis player ever. The greatest clay court player the world has seen. The man who dethroned Roger Federer at his peak. All true, but equally so is the fact that Rafa remains utterly focused and almost painfully modest. On the tennis court, he’s a fist-pumping, grunting primate with a bandana and wicked ground-strokes; off it, he’s a quietly spoken Majorcan who looks like he can never quite believe what he’s achieved. … [Read more...] about Rafa Nadal
Mourinho’s latest outburst betrays signs of strain
A few weeks ago, Iberosphere put forward the theory that José Mourinho’s recent controversial outbursts had been due to a combination of genuine anger and calculated politicking. That may indeed be the case, but his latest verbal broadside, launched during a press conference on the eve of Real Madrid’s league game against Málaga on March 3, shows very little in the way of calculated pot-stirring, and a good deal in terms of thin-skinned delusion. In the last few weeks, the Real Madrid coach’s obsession has been the league calendar, and how it purportedly favours the likes of Barcelona and works against his team. “The calendar is set by people who know what they are doing,” Mourinho … [Read more...] about Mourinho’s latest outburst betrays signs of strain
Governing for unruly Spaniards
The other night I was listening to a journalist speak during a television panel debate about the government’s proposal that goes into effect on Monday to reduce the speed limit on highways from 120 kph to 110 kph. She complained that she had grown tired with Prime Minister Zapatero’s paternalistic government telling her what she can or cannot do. It reminded me of former Prime Minister José María Aznar’s similar gripe a few years back when the Health Ministry decided to order a popular US fast food chain to pull a calorie-filled, multi-layer burger for nutritional reasons. Aznar said that if he wanted to eat a burger high in fat and carbohydrates he should be able to do so without anyone … [Read more...] about Governing for unruly Spaniards