Spaniards Abroad: David Villa.

Spaniards Abroad: David Villa. The Night David Villa came to Saint Petersburg, Florida.

David Villa is a Spanish football legend. His accomplishments for club and country are exceptional. A winner with four different clubs along with a European and World Cup medal with Spain, David Villa has had a marvelous career. He is now in the twilight of his legendary playing career here in the United States with New York MLS side, NYCFC.

When I learned that David Villa would be playing with his club at a friendly in my hometown in Florida, I did not have to think twice about going. On February 17, 2016, NYCFC faced Montreal Impact in Saint Petersburg, Florida. The venue was Al Lang stadium, home of the NASL side, Tampa Bay Rowdies.

The grounds of Al Lang stadium used to host baseball games since 1923 and underwent many renovations and changes throughout the years. However, it became the home of the Tampa Bay Rowdies a few years ago and underwent a major facelift in late 2014 to become a soccer only stadium. It is a quaint stadium that seats over 7,000 fans and on this night, would be hosting David Villa.

It was a pleasant evening with a nice cool breeze blowing from the marina located next to the stadium. The fans were diverse in their allegiance with some there to see David Villa, some to see Andrea Pirlo while others were there for Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba. For this Cule, David Villa was the main attraction.

David Villa hails from the Asturias region located at the northern tip of Spain. He joins the small list of players from that region who would go on to play for Barça; Quini and Luis Enrique. Just like those two Barça legends, David would feature for Sporting Gijon. He made his debut in 2001, when Sporting were in the second division, and after two impressive seasons, he was sold for €2.7m to Real Zaragoza. His debut with Zaragoza was around the same time FC Barcelona had just elected Joan Laporta as club president and helped usher in the new era for the Blaugrana. That same season, David Villa won his first major club trophy when Zaragoza defeated Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey Final. He had scored from the spot to give his side the lead before halftime. The Final was held in Barcelona, at Espanyol’s old stadium, the Montjuïc so Cules took notice of this young scorer. He later earned his first cap for Spain in 2005 under Luis Aragones.

After two seasons with Zaragoza, he was sold to Valencia for €12 m. He managed to score 28 goals in all competitions, 25 of them coming in the league, in his debut season. That strong performance earned him a spot in Spain’s 2006 World Cup roster where he would go on to score three goals. He won his second Copa del Rey trophy in 2008 when Valencia defeated Getafe in the Final, while scoring against FC Barcelona in the Semi-Finals at the Camp Nou.

That summer of 2008 would be special as Luis Aragones did not include Raul in his Euro 2008 roster, thus allowing David Villa to become the new Spanish number 7. It was a controversial decision that was soon forgotten when Spain finally ended their long wait of winning a major international trophy by defeating Germany in Euro 2008 Final. He scored four memorable goals in the tournament but missed the Final after suffering an injury in the Semi-Finals against Russia. Two years later, he would help steer Spain to World Cup glory over Holland in World Cup 2010 by scoring five of Spain’s eight goals in the tournament.

Barça had attempted to pry him away from Valencia in 2009 with Real Madrid hot on his heels. Ultimately, the transfer never went through but Barça managed to sign him a year later, just before president Laporta’s tenure concluded. David, Messi and Pedro formed the “MVP” trident scored 98 goals, with David scoring 23 goals in all competitions, including a memorable brace in the 5-0 win over Real Madrid, which helped the club win the league title and their fourth Champions League title with David scoring a spectacular goal in the final against Manchester United at Wembley. It was during his first season with Barça that Villa also surpassed Raul to become Spain’s all-time goal scoring leader.

His second season with the club saw him suffer a broken tibia during the FIFA Club World Cup and cause him to miss the second half of the 2011-2012 season and Euro 2012 with Spain. His third and final season at the club would see him score 16 goals in all competitions as he had to fight Alexis, Tello and Pedro for minutes. He would then be sold to Atlético Madrid for €5.1 m where he would go on to score 15 goals in all competitions and help Atlético win the league title, at the Camp Nou against Barça, and play in the Champions League Final where his side fell to their derby rivals Real Madrid.

He would represent Spain one final time during in their dreadful 2014 World Cup campaign. David indicated that this was going to be his final appearance for La Roja. He would score his 59th and final goal for Spain in their final group match against Australia. It was not the fitting end that many had wished for one of the greatest Spanish players ever.

Many, including myself were surprised to see Villa leave La Liga for the MLS after his lone season with Atlético. He was going to cross the Atlantic and play for the new MLS club in New York, NYCFC. Prior to joining his new club, he had to travel all the way to Australia for a short loan spell with Melbourne City and then headed back to New York. His was the club’s first ever captain during NYCFC’s inaugural season in MLS that saw him score 18 goals. Although that was an impressive tally, his club though failed to qualify for the MLS Cup playoffs.

So here he was, David Villa, in my hometown in Florida. NYCFC were part of the teams taking part in the Rowdies’s Suncoast Invitational along other MLS teams as they prepare for their upcoming season. While I watched him warm up with Pirlo and the rest of the team, I managed to chat with an older gentleman from the Asturias region who happened to live in the area. Just like me, he came to see Villa. Villa hasn’t changed much in appearance from when he signed with Barça. He rocks has the same haircut and soul patch that we have accustomed to seeing over the years. What was I noticed was different was that, for once, Villa looked fit during warm-ups and did not resemble the player we had seen these past few seasons in Spain who appeared in pain and sluggish while recovering from injuries.

I took my seat near the field without knowing what to expect from David Villa. Was I going to see a David Villa treating this friendly without interest as he nears retirement? Any doubts towards his professionalism were quickly put to rest when, early into the match, he showed that he still had his powerful shot after he tested the Montreal keeper from distance. In the 20th minute, Villa showed that he still had his pace when he managed to chest the ball down before bursting towards the goal with the ball at his feet. His attempt was wide, but flashbacks came flowing back to his Valencia and Blaugrana playing days. Nevertheless, he showed scent for the goal like a shark that smelt blood. He came close to scoring in the 31st minute when Pirlo delivered a free kick from just outside the box to him but Villa’s effort struck the crossbar.

Villa would start the second half and in the 54th minute, Pirlo whipped a pass into the box, and Villda headed the ball to down to his teammate Diskerud, but his effort was stopped by the Montreal keeper. A few minutes later, Villa had a chance to score from close range but mishit the ball and the keeper had an easy save to make. In the 63rd minute, after a short corner kick, Villa had another attempt from outside the box but was off target.

David Villa’s night came to an end in the 68th minute. He gave Pirlo the captain’s armband and headed for the bench while receiving a warm embrace from his manager, Patrick Vieira and a nice round of applause from the fans in attendance. I was in a state of disbelief that David Villa actually played in my hometown and he did not disappoint.

I have to admit that I was impressed by both, David and Pirlo’s attitude on the pitch. Many might assume that these world class players came to the U.S. to cash it in and take it easy. You cannot make that assumption about these two. Both were leading the charge and demanding the ball from their teammates and urging them on. Their competitive fire still burns and they expect the same from their teammates.

After the game ended, the fans started to leave the small but lovely stadium of the Tampa Bay Rowdies. He made his way to some fans and signed some autographs before heading off to the locker room. I waited outside the stadium to get one final glimpse of David Villa as he was the first player to board the team bus. The legendary Spanish player was leaving my hometown and he still looked like he still had something to offer to the football world. The fans in New York are sure lucky to have him.

Vicente del Bosque’s Possible Successors.

With Vicente del Bosque set to step down from the Spanish national team after Euro 2016, the choice of his successor is still up in the air.

Today, Spain and Holland renewed acquaintances for the first time since the 5-1 drubbing the Oranje gave La Roja in Brazil during their opening World Cup match. Many thought that Vicente del Bosque would step down after that disappointing World Cup where the defending champions exited without qualifying from the group stage. However, the man with the recognizable moustache was still the man in charge of qualifying Spain for the upcoming Euro 2016 and was in the dugout for Spain’s friendly against Holland.

So who are the candidates to become Vicente del Bosque’s Possible Successor?

Michel

The former Madrid player comes from the same pedigree as del Bosque. He came through the ranks at Real Madrid academy and represented club and country. Just like del Bosque, he also managed Madrid at the youth level before making the leap to manage Getafe and Sevilla and Olympiakos in Greece. He found some success with the Greek side by winning back to back league titles and getting them to advance to the knockout stage in last season’s Champions League where they won the first leg against Manchester United at home before being crashing out following a loss in the second leg at Old Trafford. Michel is currently unemployed after his contract was terminated in January.

Pros: He is available and fits the profile with his background as a player for Madrid and his coaching stints.

Cons: Just not good enough to be in charge of the Spanish team.

Julen Lopetegui

Julen is one of the few players to have played for both Barça and Madrid, as a backup goalkeeper. He also came through the ranks at Real Madrid’s academy. His coaching experience consists of a brief tenure with Rayo Vallecano followed by coaching at the youth level with Real Madrid. However, he had great success managing the Spanish national youth teams. He coached Spain to the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in 2012 and followed it up with a UEFA European Under-21 Championship in 2013. He became Porto’s manager this season and succeeded in guiding the Portuguese club to the Champions League Quarter-Finals where his side will face Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich.

Pros: His experience and success with Spain’s youth national teams makes him ideal to take over from Del Bosque. Some of those players he managed such as Alcácer, Jesé, Deulofeu, Bernat, de Gea, Bartra, Iñigo Martínez, Koke, Thiago, and Isco are just to name a few. Most of those players are or should be featuring for the national team now so why not have him coach them again.

Cons: Is he ready for this level? At this moment, he is only concerned with managing Porto and is doing well with Porto who are three points behind Benfica in second place in the Portuguese Primeira Liga and has his side in the Champions League Quarter-Finals. However, will there be hesitation by the Spanish Football Federation to go down that road and appoint him after what happened with Iñaki Sáez? Sáez did well with the youth level but was a disaster with the senior team during Euro 2004.

Guardiola

The man does need an introduction. He has found success with Barça B, FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich. His teams are known for playing a great style of football and a few of his players, young and old, are still part of the national team set up,. His contract with Bayern Munich also concludes in 2016 so he would be available for the job when del Bosque steps down.

Pros: He is considered one of the greatest managers of the century and it would be absurd not to consider him for the job. The style of football would not be a complete transformation of what he likes his teams to play. He is also not hesitant to play some of the younger players that del Bosque seems to neglect and will tinker with the tactics to suit the team’s needs.

Cons: Does he want the job? He seems interested in managing in the Premier League and perhaps both Manchester United and City will be available for him. Additionally, since he won when Xavi and Iniesta were at the peak of their careers, some wonder if can he adjust to other midfielders. Finally, there is the political aspect of his hiring. Is Spain ready for a Catalan Spanish national team manager who has voiced his support for Catalan independence?

Paco Jémez

Paco Jémez is one of the gutsiest and impressive managers coaching in Spain right now. The Rayo Vallecano manager is known for his attacking style philosophy where he does not accept playing for a draw. He saw some success as a player with both Deportivo de La Coruña and Real Zaragoza and represented Spain during Euro 2000. Most of his managerial experience has been in the lower divisions. However, one cannot deny the work he has done at the top level with Rayo Vallecano thus far. In his first season at the top flight, his side finished in 8th place, and ahead of Sevilla and Athletic Club, which is remarkable considering the club’s limited budget. Last season, they finished 12th and they are currently 11th in a league that has Barça, Real Madrid, Atlético, Valencia, Sevilla, Athletic, Villarreal, and Real Sociedad battling each other. They might not be contending for any titles but a small club like Rayo Vallecano will also not be fighting a relegation battle anytime soon. One only has to wonder what Jémez would be capable of at a bigger club.

Pros: With some claiming Spain’s playing style is boring, Paco’s gusty swashbuckling style of football would be a pleasure to watch with all the talent that La Roja has. He gets the best out of the talent that he has with Rayo Vallecano so imagine what he could do with Spain. He would be the right type of manager to motivate the Spanish players and its fans.

Cons: His hiring is one for the romantics. It is doubtful that the Spanish Football Federation would appoint someone like Paco Jémez. Additionally, unlike the other candidates, he has not won titles as a player or a manager so would the players listen to him? It is one thing to manage a small club and have players listen to you and another thing to walk into a big club or a national team where the players have won a lot, and more than the manager, and expect to take you seriously.

Rafa Benítez

Rafa Benítez may not have been a great footballer but his managerial career has been impressive for the most part. For most of this young century, Rafa Benítez was considered one of the greatest current managers in the game. He managed to win two league titles with Valencia and a UEFA Cup. He then took Liverpool to two Champions League Finals, winning one of them and won an FA Cup along with the UEFA Super Cup and the Community Shield. However, his career has been in a decline since 2009 where he was let go by Liverpool after finishing 7th in the Premier League. He had a short stint with Inter and won a few cups there and then won the Europa League with Chelsea. He is currently managing Napoli where he has already won the Italian Cup and Super Cup. He started out as a player with the Madrid youth teams and after he retired as a player, he coached Real Madrid Castilla in the mid 90’s and even temporarily served as Vicente del Bosque’s assistant when the latter was appointed as an interim manager following the sacking of Benito Floro during the 1993-1994 season. He found it hard to get going as a manager following coaching stints with Valladolid, Osasuna before finding some success in guiding Extremadura to promotion to La Liga before they were relegated after one season. He then helped guide Tenerife gain promotion which is when Valencia nabbed him to be their new manager and the rest is history.

Pros: His resume speaks for itself. Benítez’s profile matches the same sort of profile of del Bosque regarding his background with Real Madrid, league titles in Spain, a Champions League title and other titles in his career. His deal with Napoli expires after this season and there is talk he might extend his stay at Napoli. He could extend his stay for another season which would coincide with the Spain position being available.

Cons: Realistically, he’s Rafa Benítez. His style of play is considered too defensive and too dull, with former Real Madrid legend Valdano calling it, in a censored way, “poop on a stick.” Furthermore, his magic seems to have run out after that Champions League Final loss to Milan. The fact that Napoli are not fighting for the Italian league title is disappointing seeing as the quality of the rivals in Serie A have dipped and he has failed to take advantage of that.

My final prediction? I have a feeling that when Vicente del Bosque steps down, Spain’s next manager will be… Rafa Benítez. I can’t see the Spanish Football Federation going for the other candidates unless Benítez declines the position. However, I can’t see Benítez declining this position. By this time next year, we will know more on who will be the successor. Spain better choose wisely or risk more disappointments and regression after all that they have accomplished. By the way, Spain lost to Holland 2-0, which is not a good result for del Bosque. The fact that it was a friendly should not change the fact that the results have been disappointing since the summer of 2014 and his successor will have to figure out how to lead this team back to glory. The Spanish Football Federation better choose wisely.

Spain have been Defeated but not Beaten.

World Cup 2014 was a train wreck for La Roja. The defending champions were embarrassed by Holland in the opening match and never recovered from that sucker punch that knocked the wind out of their sails and saw them exit the World Cup after just 3 matches. Many were ready to announce La Roja’s era was over however those talks are premature. Spain has been defeated but not beaten and the talented youth players for Spain ensure a bright future for La Roja.

 All good things must come to an end and Spain’s run came to a grinding halt in Brazil. Losses to Holland and Chile brought down the curtains on any chance of Spain repeating as World Cup champion.  I had previously written that history was not on Spain’s side and sure enough, Spain became the third consecutive European World Cup champion to crash out of the World Cup during the group stages while they attempted to defend their crown.

France won the World Cup in 1998 and crashed out in 2002 World Cup group stages while Italy won the World Cup in 2006 and crashed out in 2010 in similar fashion. Italy would pull off an encore performance in this recent World Cup, while France would get back in the World Cup Final in 2006. World Cup 2018 will be Spain’s opportunity to rebound with a strong showing like France did in 2006 or fall flat on their face and revert back to their disappointing selves we had seen prior to 2008.

Since Del Bosque will remain in charge for Euro 2016, it’s time for him to start the new project with the talented youth he has available. The days of Xavi, Torres, Villa and others is over and it’s time to focus on the likes of Thiago, Jesé, Isco, Deulofeu, Koke , De Gea, Bartra and others to supplement the veterans still representing Spain. The talent is there and Del Bosque didn’t suddenly forget how to manage a team, just made some glaring mistakes in terms who he called up and who he started. I still can’t understand him omitting Fernando Llorente.

His faith in the veterans backfired after an entertaining but grueling Spanish league season that left many players hurt or exhausted for the World Cup. Now, he will have the chance to make amends for that mistake if he does not squander the talented players available present. Not many managers get a to stick around after an embarrassing exit which is why Del Bosque better make the most out of the talent he has available. The talent is still absurd and he has the right ingredients for another competitive team; just as long as he chooses wisely his ingredients.