It was a privilege to accompany Vicente del Bosque on his 24 hour visit to London yesterday when he flew the flag for his country at the Spanish tourist office, at a Q &A session at the Lumiere Cinema, and much later at Abel Lusa’s ever welcoming and excellent Cambio de Tercio restaurant on the Old Brompton Road.
The fact that he is one of the most successful managers in football history has not gone to his head. On the contrary he remains understated and modest, insisting that he would be happy to see the end of managerial ‘technical zones’. The sight of managers screaming instructions and gesticulating during matches is one he would be happy to be excluded from. He believes that what binds the best teams to the best managers is the unpublicised bond of mutual respect and dialogue. He recalled that decisive goal Pujol scored for Spain against Germany in the last World Cup semi-finals. It was a goal he and the players, notably Pujol- discussed prior to the scoring of it, at half time.
Last night saw del Bosque attended the presentation of a documentary called El Alma de La Roja, which shows how much Spanish football has evolved since the early kick-around games in Bilbao ands Rio Tinto. World football’s traditional underachiever, has learnt that it’s not enough to want to conquer. You have to play with your mind as well as your heart, skill and technique applied with conviction and courage.
Del Bosque’s biggest achievement is to have built a team of comrades that cuts across regional rivalries. Solidarity, self-sacrifice, endeavour, honesty, hard work, and delivery all form part of his project. He remains a shining example amidst the doldrums haunting his country.
