What it takes to become a Real Madrid legend?
Real Madrid legend Jose Antonio Camacho says in order to earn hero status at Santiago Bernabéu ‘ One has to play with the heart and give utmost respect to Real’s badge’.
Camacho, who made over 400 appearances for Los Blancos talked to Goal.com, and reflect upon his time at the club, and reveals what it takes to place himself among the Real Madrid greats.
What it takes to become a Real Madrid legend?
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“This is what it was like when I was the Spain coach and had to make decisions at the European Championships and the World Cup. Di Stefano and Raul could never miss out on such a list. The most distinguished are the very good players who come to the end of their careers at Real Madrid, and who have been at the club for ten or fifteen years. Because you can get to a club in a beautiful moment and win five titles in a year.
“But maybe there is a player who has given four years to the club, but without winning anything because these are difficult times. We should not give more value to one or another, but analyse everything in those specific times to measure the glory achieved. In my case for example, I am very proud to beat the record of caps for Spain having played only at Real Madrid, or to have played every minute of a season. We must give more importance to trying to understand the specific circumstances.
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“Winning five European Cups in a row is incredible, though. Like if you win five titles in a row now. Today, Madrid are always favourite wherever they go. I played for Real for 16 years, and in my team there was never a clear favourite to win the Ballon d’Or as there is now … every player and every age have their moments. “
“Look, Amancio was my idol. And I came to Real Madrid to play with my idol. I played three or four years with him and then he was a coach. A football level, he could not aspire to achieve anything more. It was extraordinary.
“I didn’t play with Di Stefano but he was my friend and he was my coach, and he created a new type of football. Then there was Sanchis, Butragueno or Michel, who arrived at a difficult time but managed to regain the enthusiasm for football. Everyone has been very important.
In the end you have to say all of them. All were important at the time. It is very important to win a league where players have climbed from the youth ranks because of no economic resources, for example. The year after I arrived Johann Cruyff moved to Barcelona and it seemed that they would conquer the world, but we won the league and the cup. Those were also great times, some of the most beautiful, perhaps. You have to take everything into consideration.”