Interview
Míchel González
Competing at the highest level is a hugely commendable achievement for any professional footballer. Yet, beyond simply succeeding and winning trophies, it is leaving a legacy at the clubs that they grace that is the true mark of legends. José Miguel González Martín del Campo, better known as Míchel, falls into precisely that category of footballing greats who are remembered with reverence long after the conclusion of their sparkling on-pitch careers. Renowned for his technical ability, inch-perfect crossing and right foot of rare quality, this repertoire of skills allowed him to win hearts and minds even among fans of opposing teams. We caught up with the former Real Madrid midfield maestro and 66-time Spain international to talk football, including his swansong in Mexico and the transition from the turf to the dugout, where he has amassed a wealth of experience as a coach.
You are known today, among other things, for having been a member of the Quinta del Buitre, a quintet of home-grown players who spearheaded one of the most iconic, trophy-laden and memorable periods in Real Madrid’s history. Can you share some highlights with us from that time alongside those heavyweights at the Bernabéu?
First of all, it was an honour and it gave me no end of satisfaction; it’s hard to think of one highlight that sums up what it meant to play for my hometown club together with a number of players that had been my friends from a young age. I had so many good experiences and they still haven’t fully sunk in, even though so long has passed and I have so many memories.
You almost joined the select group of people to have represented only a single club throughout their playing careers. However, you spent your last year as a player in Mexico with Club Atlético Celaya. What was that experience like and what were the differences between Atlético Celaya and a club of the stature of Real Madrid in sporting and organisational terms?
I decided to bow out for two reasons: I could no longer perform at the level that everyone had come to expect from me and I didn't want to go to the Bernabéu as an opposition player.
It was [Emilio] Butragueño, who was already at Celaya, who mooted the idea of me moving there; he was one of the few people who could have convinced me.
I have no regrets because I learnt a lot and it softened the landing in the transition from competing at the highest level to the next chapter in my life.
After your success in the dugout in Europe, particularly during your spell in Greece at the helm of Olympiacos FC, your last coaching job took you back to Mexico to take charge of Club Universidad Nacional, better known as Pumas or UNAM. What were the things that made the biggest impression on you, both personally speaking and in footballing terms, during those stints overseas?
Leaving Spain really opened my mind, as well as reinforcing my sense of vocation and my gratitude to football. I’m in love with this sport and I owe it such a big debt that I’m driven to keep repaying it for all the good things and enjoyment it’s given me.
At every club I've been at, I’ve been flexible and adapted, and regardless of the results on the pitch, it’s always been hugely rewarding to keep learning and honing my trade. I've never felt out of place and that’s because football is universal.
Having spent the majority of your career at the top of the European game before moving to Mexico, you are better qualified than most to analyse the differences between football in Europe and other parts of the world.
What do you make of the current state of play in Mexican football compared to when you played there? And how do you think it stacks up to European football today?
The Liga MX is much better organised, more structured and more competitive than when I played in it. They model themselves closely on European football and would like to achieve something similar. I think they should strive to better market their brand and the competition overseas because they’ve got what it takes to be considered the gold standard in Latin America.
Football is a sport that is constantly in flux and developing. What is your take on the sport today in general, and specifically, what do you think has been the biggest change or innovation in recent times?
Sport is now a benchmark when it comes to business and has a huge influence on society. The football world is constantly changing and bears an ever-growing responsibility due to the number of people who follow it all over the world. There are two main strands at the heart of this: sporting and financial considerations. The game is transitioning from a sport to a business and, accordingly, its management is becoming steadily more rational, which I understand, because the executives are increasingly well equipped to meet those requirements. The directors are willing to listen to the stakeholders to improve their expertise.
A football coach has the tough task of taking a set of players who very often have different personalities, cultures and needs, and moulding them into a successful, tight-knit group that works effectively towards the same goal. Given this challenge, what is the most important quality of a coach?
Based on my varied experiences in different areas and competitions, the ability to manage a group at an emotional level is becoming increasingly less incidental and more essential. It is vital to engage closely with each and every player, so that you can find out what their needs are and come up with immediate, lasting and tailor-made solutions to strengthen the group. That’s the best strategy to follow.
In your opinion, how strong is the link between players’ private lives and their performances on the pitch?
The connection between the two is undeniable. Someone who is able to align their personal life with the demands of their profession, and vice versa, is much likelier to have staying power. We see a lot of flashes in the pan who ultimately fizzle out without delivering on their promise because of their erraticism.
As a former player and current coach, what’s your view on the importance of pre-seasons? How big a bearing do they have on a team's performances and whether or not the targets set for a season are achieved?
Pre-season is fundamental for setting the tone going forward – not just in footballing terms but also with regard to the spirit and character you want to instil in the group. It’s about getting to know each other within the framework that you have established in order to develop on and off the pitch, which also includes discipline.
What do you prefer as a coach: whipping your team into peak fitness for the first match of the season or having a less gruelling pre-season and prioritising the long term?
I draw up the priorities and plans along with my support staff; the aim is for the team to be as physically sharp as possible going into the opening games of the season, but above all, for them to have a clear understanding of what we're trying to build and how.
What is your view of the rule change allowing five substitutions per game? How does that change affect the dynamics of matches?
I think it’s been a success and is proof that the people tasked with overseeing the Laws of the Game anticipate needs before they arise and stay up to speed with the times, basing themselves on the latest developments and arguments. The way I see it, that makes the difference when it comes to addressing requirements and staying a step ahead. The opportunity to use five substitutes, to have more squad members at your disposal, allows you to make tactical as well as technical substitutions and to attempt to influence the emotional complexion of games. It enables coaches to intervene more proactively to change the run of play.
In your opinion, what are the most critical challenges facing professional club football at present and what needs to be done to tackle them?
The industry needs to adapt and to recognise how the landscape is shaping up in view of various circumstances. Ideas need to be canvassed from all quarters, then systematised and fine-tuned so that they suit all stakeholders, including those who are often not consulted. I think that the time has come to listen to the key figures, i.e. active coaches and players, as well as those who are no longer active but are capable of coming up with tenable, sound ideas and arguments. In them, football has potential leaders who see things objectively and dispassionately, notwithstanding the passion that they've always had for the game.
