Just one manager in history has been crowned a world and European champion with both club and country – that man is Vicente del Bosque.
Now 71, only he can say he’s won the World Cup, European Championship, Champions League, and either the Club World Cup or Intercontinental Cup, but you won’t hear him boast – as a coach, it was that characteristic modesty that allowed his players to take the limelight and fulfil their potential.
Hailing from the west of Spain, Del Bosque enjoyed a distinguished playing career as a 6ft holding midfielder with Real Madrid, then coached the club’s kids before an unexpected ascent to first-team boss – guiding Los Blancos to two Champions League crowns, melding a team of ‘Zidanes y Pavones’, as the Spanish media called it, made up of Galacticos and academy starlets.
Surprisingly let go by Florentino Perez, he became the unifying force that won Spain the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 – bringing together rivals from Real and Barcelona, particularly after a heated Clasico caused ructions in the camp, when Jose Mourinho poked Tito Vilanova in the eye.
Del Bosque has never been prone to such emotion – after World Cup glory though, he was reduced to tears when son Alvaro, who has Down’s syndrome, declared how proud he was of his dad.
Now the retired boss is ready to look back on a remarkable career with FFT…
What was it like joining Real Madrid as a 17-year-old?
Alberto Davila, Alcorcon
It was unthinkable when I was 17 that my experience in the capital would last so long. I never thought I was going to make it in professional sport – I took it as an adventure. I’d enjoyed a happy childhood in Salamanca – all we ever needed was a street, a ball and to get together with our friends. Later, Real Madrid got in touch through someone in the area who used to scout players.
You played more than 400 games for Real Madrid. What was the highlight?
Thiago Conde, Vallecas
It’s impossible to choose one moment – I’d choose the 36 years I was at the club. It was a long journey, unthinkable. I had four stages: as an apprentice, a professional player, interim manager and finally manager. I feel so proud of my career at Real Madrid. At the start, I was a striker with a tendency to score lots of goals thanks to my height. Later, I moved into midfield. I tried to lead the team and participate permanently in the game, both in defence and in the development of the play.
You made your Real Madrid debut in the same year that Johan Cruyff joined Barcelona. How did you find facing him
