GOD lays down his boots one final time
December 2004
I think that it should be made mandatory to always insert the work God when mentioning Fernando "God" Redondo's full name. In an age of galacticos and superstars, where footballers are valued in terms of image and where player/club greed have resulted in a culture of egoistical, selfish, me-first prima-donnas (including sadly my footballing favourite Ronaldo), Redondo stood out for his class, humility, effort and intelligence as much as for his genius on the field.
I think part of the reason why I have never learnt to love Figo is because his arrival was directly correlated to Redondo's departure, and consequently the end of his career. It saddened me that the greatest Real Madrid player of my generation was forced to leave against his wishes to accommodate a player who, because the money was right, walked out on the club whose supporters believed he represented their soul. It was as though we had lost appreciation for loyalty and all the other values that Redondo exemplified and that Figo had betrayed. And while I have grown to respect Figo and do not doubt his commitment to Madrid, he will always be the reason why my club let go of my favourite player. I guess the parallel would have been if Madrid had let go of Raul in 2002 to sign Ronaldo.
In a lot of ways the legend of Redondo was cast in stone when he refused to take a salary from Milan during his injury. I can't imagine any other player making a gesture like that to a new club (not a club that you have developed a sense of loyalty to over a number of years).
More than Hierro, more than Valdano, more than El Buitre, I believe that if any player deserves to be made a part of the Madrid set-up and I would love to see him coach us someday, and not just because of the common sense, vision and intelligence I am certain he will bring as a coach... but because it will be a day when the team will be lead by a man who can show the players and the club all that they could and should be.
The day Fernando "God" Redondo takes his place on the Madrid bench will be the day dignity and class once again takes its place along the touchlines of the Bernabeau.
December 2004
I think that it should be made mandatory to always insert the work God when mentioning Fernando "God" Redondo's full name. In an age of galacticos and superstars, where footballers are valued in terms of image and where player/club greed have resulted in a culture of egoistical, selfish, me-first prima-donnas (including sadly my footballing favourite Ronaldo), Redondo stood out for his class, humility, effort and intelligence as much as for his genius on the field.
I think part of the reason why I have never learnt to love Figo is because his arrival was directly correlated to Redondo's departure, and consequently the end of his career. It saddened me that the greatest Real Madrid player of my generation was forced to leave against his wishes to accommodate a player who, because the money was right, walked out on the club whose supporters believed he represented their soul. It was as though we had lost appreciation for loyalty and all the other values that Redondo exemplified and that Figo had betrayed. And while I have grown to respect Figo and do not doubt his commitment to Madrid, he will always be the reason why my club let go of my favourite player. I guess the parallel would have been if Madrid had let go of Raul in 2002 to sign Ronaldo.
In a lot of ways the legend of Redondo was cast in stone when he refused to take a salary from Milan during his injury. I can't imagine any other player making a gesture like that to a new club (not a club that you have developed a sense of loyalty to over a number of years).
More than Hierro, more than Valdano, more than El Buitre, I believe that if any player deserves to be made a part of the Madrid set-up and I would love to see him coach us someday, and not just because of the common sense, vision and intelligence I am certain he will bring as a coach... but because it will be a day when the team will be lead by a man who can show the players and the club all that they could and should be.
The day Fernando "God" Redondo takes his place on the Madrid bench will be the day dignity and class once again takes its place along the touchlines of the Bernabeau.
posted by Anirban Blah at 2:24 am
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