Football in Spain

It can be argued that Spain is home to the 2 greatest football club sides of all time, and was responsible for producing the greatest national team to ever play the beautiful game:

Los Blancos are, factually, the most successful football team in the history of the game. As I write this they have recently won 'La Decima', their unprecedented TENTH European Cup Trophy. To put that into some perspective the mighty AC Milan have only 7, and Real's eternal rivals Barcelona have just 4. Add to that their 32 La Liga titles and you start to get the picture. 

People travel to Madrid purely to see Real's 'Galacticos' play, and if you have even a passing interest in football then I suggest you follow suit. Incredibly the last 5 times the world transfer record was broken, it was broken by Real Madrid (name those 5 players in a tweet or email to receive a prize*).  When I spent a year in Madrid I was at the beautiful Santiago Bernabeau every other week, the atmosphere is electric, the city is football crazy, and the players are the best on the planet. I'm back in England now, but my heart will always be in Madrid, and no small part of that is down to the greatest club in the world - Hala Madrid.

P.S - It would be tragic if you were to sell Di Maria, please don't.

Mas que un club. More than a club - is emblazoned across the seats of the Nou Camp, and this embodies the history of this great club more than any other. They may not have won the amount of trophies as their illustrious neighbours, but in recent years they have, without doubt, been the greatest team on the planet - some believe the greatest club side of all time, which is hard to disagree with.

The Xavi - Iniesta midfield combination is to be more than admired, despite my affiliation with Madrid, I have stood and watched them on many occasions in the last few years in nothing but awe - I have never seen anyone pass a ball like that, nor will we ever again.

You will notice, I am sure, I haven't mentioned the 2 greatest players on earth as of yet, that's a whole new argument for a whole new post.

Despite Spain's appalling performance at the last World Cup (even England managed to stay in the competition 2 days longer), the Spanish team of recent years has been the greatest side of a generation, possibly of all time. From the fields of Barcelona and Madrid La Roja brought tiki-taka to the world, and conquered all before them in a record breaking spell - the only national team in history to win 3 major international competitions in a row, and 2 competitive losses over the 12 years and 2 goals conceded in 3 tournaments combined is quite a decent record by any standards.

I wasn't here to witness Pele's Brazil, so I can't compare them, but I am delighted to able to say I was here, in fact I was in Madrid, to witness the coronation of La Roja 2010, we'll never see the like again.

There are of course many more teams across Spain, and an honorable mention must go to Atletico Madrid for winning La Liga last season in what must be one of the greatest managerial performances in European football history - congratulations, Diego. If you want beauty you watch Barcelona, if you want pace, power and brilliance you watch Real Madrid, but if you want pure passion - you go and watch Sevilla, and if you read this article and it inspires you to do just one thing - go and attend the Sevilla vs Betis derby, Andalucian passion at it's rawest.

Unfortunately some of Spain's other great sides are struggling currently due to a mix of poor finances, poor form, and poor management. We can just hope that sides like Valencia, and Villareal are back where they belong soon.

So, who do you think will win La Liga this season? Ronaldo or Messi? James or Suarez? Please, leave your comments bellow.

Hala Madrid.

*The prize is my being impressed at your ability to use an internet search engine. No purchase necessary.