20250409 Spain Real Madrid City Training

20250409 Day 2 and we were up early for breakfast then loading onto a bus for the best training ground in the world, “Real Madrid City” and the boys are all excited, they get to see the greatest sports facility ever built by a football club and home to a generation of Real Madrid players. The new 21st century club, where dreams can come true, a 1,200,000 m2 of space which has heaps of room for professionals and fans and we’re are on our way there to check it out, and the boys get to practice with some of the best coaches. What an absolute awesome opportunity for these kids who have obviously worked hard to end up in Madrid to play their chosen sport.

So here we are in Real Madrid training facility as the boys line up for their first training session with some of the best coaches in Madrid.

In the back ground stands Fabio and Theo, organisers and coach who watch on as the SDB team take on there first lesson.

Hamish has grown from a screaming toddler into a little super star, well in Grandma’s eyes. Hamish’s brother Ash, couldn’t wait until Hamish would grow big enough to kick a ball. They would spend hours in the backyard kicking to each other. Hamish started club soccer at 5. He continued developing his skills over the years starting from local community teams until he advanced into academy. His passion and commitment to Soccer continues to grow. Including developing skills in futsal. Recently his team from Elanora State school took out the Gold coast futsal title for U12’s.

The Real Madrid City, the biggest sports complex ever build by a football club with 10 football fields surrounded by terraces for more than 11.000 fans and these boys got to practice on one of these fields. I don’t know who’s more excited the boys or the parents.

After their training session we then checked out the complex stopping for a photo shoot. I could name all the kids but there’s no way I can remember the whole crew, but they were a great bunch of kids with a lot of energy.

What a proud bunch of kids and I know their coaches are just as proud, although Marcos didn’t smile much as Hamish often pointed out to him, but you could see he sat proud and tall at the end trying not to be noticed.

Named after Alfredo Di Stéfano, a legendary Real Madrid player, who is considered responsible for making Real Madrid the greatest club in the world.

This bust stands at the entrance to the club and represents Santiago Bernabéu, a Spanish footballer who played for Real Madrid as a forward. He devoted his life to football, his team and gave his all for the institution as a player, trainer, director and president. He is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of Real Madrid, having served as its president for over 34 years.

The image shows a bronze bust of Ferenc Puskás, a legendary Hungarian footballer who played for Real Madrid but made his debut for Kispest Honved (Honved means Homeland Defence) at age 16, winning five Hungarian championships. 

After the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, Puskás chose not to return to Hungary and joined Real Madrid, playing for eight seasons he scoring 242 goals in 262 appearances.

The boys having fun singing along with their coaches while on the way to Real Madrid City, the Queensland and NSW team came together like they have known each other for ever, it was so good to see.

The training session went well then we headed into the town centre for lunch with Cristiano leading the way and taking in the sites as go.

We stopped for a quick look at, Museo National del Prado (Main Spanish National Art Museum), founded in 1819, designed by Juan de Villanueva as a house of science but, but his wife Maria Isabel of Braganza, King Ferdinand VII finally decided to use it as a museum, to store the royal paintings.

That’s my boy Hamish who photo bombed a bunch of school kids, he certainly has our sense of humour. 

The Monumen stands as a tribute to Diego Velázquez, one of Spain's most celebrated painters.

This is the vehicle of the Spanish National Police that displays the emergency number "091", in case you forgot it.🤷‍♀️

From left Max, Jeffery, Hamish, Fox and Kauai, never far behind are their coaches, Rodrigo and Marcos with the straggles following.

As we walk along Alcala Streets the parks are covered in tulips sprouting up between these beautiful daisies, ya gotta love the Tulips.

It feels like we’ve been walking for hours, if we don’t get lunch soon I’m going to start eating Cristiano.🫢🤣

Bring on the Food