The University Games and the injury

I moved from the U-18 team to Real Madrid’s third team, Real Madrid Aficionado. In 1979, whilst playing there, I received the call to join the Spanish National University Team to participate in the ‘Universiada’, an Olympic Games style tournament between students of different countries, held in Mexico. During the tournament I suffered a knee injury and couldn’t play again for over six months. I never fully recovered, giving my playing career an unexpected expiry date.

Following the injury, Real Madrid sent me on loan to AD Parla in the 3rd Division. I played there for four years. Although they were good times and we achieved the League title and promotion, I continued to have relapses of my knee injury. I left Madrid for the first time and signed for Linares of Jaén (2ª División B) where my knee continued to give me a lot of problems, causing my playing ability to suffer. Finally I decided to put an end to my career as a footballer at the age of 26.Imagen

Looking back now, I had always enjoyed acting as a player-coach. I never realised that my true calling lay hidden, that during my playing career I was developing the skills for what would be my future career: coaching football.

SCHOOLS AND GYMNASIUMS

At that time, I did not earn enough to make a living through football alone. Once I finished my degree, I worked as a PE teacher in several schools in Madrid and later in a secondary school in Linares. When I returned to Madrid, I worked for five years as a Technical Director in various gyms and also worked as a coach at the Real Madrid Academy.