By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Pablo Laso will guide Real Madrid for the 735th time on Tuesday in the Copa del Rey quarterfinal versus Valencia. Apart from advancing to the next round of the Spanish Cup, the 53-year-old boss of the Whites will become the head coach with the most appearances in club history. “I’m very happy because it’s recognition for a job well done,” he told Realmadrid TV.
Lolo Sainz set the record at 734, 31 years ago. “Reaching a milestone like this says a lot about the work we do,” noted Laso, “I’m very proud to coach this team but I have great professionals by my side. The whole club is pushing to make this happen and I’m lucky to be at Real Madrid. It’s the team that’s out there working day-to-day but without the fans, the directors and everyone pushing, this would not be possible.”
“There’s not just one secret to staying at a club as demanding as Real Madrid for so long,” he added and went on explaining, “The daily work, the continuity, an understanding of the team, of the game, of how to do things that are interrupted by situations such as injuries, signings, etc. Results are important and this team always wants to win everything. But that day to day work is what makes the team competitive and that’s what everyone appreciates.”
Laso took over back in 2011. He since captured a couple of Turkish Airlines EuroLeague championships and numerous domestic titles. It seems like an ideal spot for him.
“I’m just another link in the chain. Starting with the efforts of the president to ensure that we have good facilities, good players, that the players want to come to Real Madrid, to having a good working group,” he mentioned, “These are the things that see Real Madrid playing at the highest level. And that means being able to be at our best every day for a club that also supports you going forward. The coach is obliged to improve every day. I’ve been a player and I’ve always had the aim to be better every day, not settling, and that’s something I try to transmit to the group. Real Madrid has to always improve, the players too, and of course the coach. Coaching Real Madrid requires me to do that”.
A rich history of successful head coaches, including Lolo Sainz from 1975 to 1989 and Pedro Ferrandiz in three stints from 1959 to 1975, is a tough challenge to overcome.
“I don’t like to compare myself with Lolo Sainz and Pedro Ferrandiz, who have been two people i look up to and are important for the history of Real Madrid,” mentioned Laso, “Their careers are more than recognized and without them none of us would be here. I’m very happy because it’s recognition for a job well done.”
“Every era is different,” he added, “I was lucky enough to play under Lolo in the national team. He trained me there but it was a different situation. There were fewer games and more time to recover and to be able to train, but there is something that unites us and that is being at Real Madrid, which requires you to do things to the highest standard and to want to improve. He was a great transmitter of that over time and for me he has been a role model. It’s difficult to compare eras. Now it’s very difficult and the calendar is tough for us. Lolo had the same pressure and demand at the time and he transmits that very well”.
Read the rest of the interview extending to several more topics at Realmadrid.com.