Tag Archives: LaLiga

This Week in LaLiga… [27 July 2020]

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From contract extensions to summer transfers, here are some of the top news headlines to come out of LaLiga this week.

The 2019/20 LaLiga Santander season may be over, but teams are now planning for next season. There have been several important developments in the past week. These range from coaching changes to contract extensions to confirmed transfers…

Unai Emery is back in LaLiga Santander

Villarreal announced Javi Calleja wouldn’t be continuing as head coach. The Yellow Submarine went out and hired Unai Emery to take over on a three-year deal. Emery is returning to LaLiga Santander! Emery enjoyed a lot of success at Valencia and Sevilla before stints in France and England with PSG and Arsenal.

Negredo commits to Cádiz

Spanish striker Álvaro Negredo is back in LaLiga Santander. The 34-year-old has signed with newly promoted Cádiz. The Andalusians will be the fourth team he’ll represent in Spain’s top division. He previously played for Almería, Sevilla and Valencia. Negredo was most recently with Al-Nasr in the UAE. He has also played for Manchester City in England and Besiktas in Turkey.

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6 Things You Might Not Know About Zinedine Zidane

Shinji Okazaki renews with Huesca

After Huesca secured promotion back to Spain’s top tier, they have agreed to renew the contract of their top scorer Shinji Okazaki. The Japanese veteran scored 12 goals as Huesca finished 2019/20 as LaLiga SmartBank champions. He’ll now get to experience Spain’s top flight for the first time in his career.

Four teams win promotion to LaLiga SmartBank

LaLiga SmartBank will feature four new teams next season, all of which secured promotion through a playoff tournament held in southern Spain: Logroñes, Cartagena, Sabadell and Castellón will play in Spain’s second tier in 2020/21.

6 Things You Might Not Know About Zinedine Zidane

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There’s little left to say about ‘Zizou,’ undoubtedly one of the greatest ever figures in football history. But here are six things you may not know about Zidane, from his remarkable trophy-winning statistics as Real Madrid coach to starring in his own TV documentary.

1. He averages a trophy every 19 matches as Real Madrid coach

The 2019-20 LaLiga title is Zinedine Zidane’s 11th as Real Madrid coach in just three and a half seasons. A figure which rounds out, incredibly, at around one trophy every 19 games. Also, he’s yet to lose a Champions League knockout game. He is the only coach to win the competition three seasons in a row.

Having said that, there’s nothing quite like winning LaLiga for Zidane, as he made clear this Thursday after wrapping up the title: “The Champions League is the Champions League, but this title makes me happier because LaLiga is what it’s all about.”

2. He is Real Madrid’s first French manager

Zidane and Real Madrid have adapted well to post-lockdown football

Real Madrid have had many French players over the years and they’ve had head coaches from 16 different countries. But Zidane is the first Frenchman to sit in the club’s dugout as coach. He first took over in January 2016, staying on until May 2018 before taking over again in March 2019. Taking into account this season’s LaLiga title, he’s already won 11 trophies as manager. 

3. Just one trophy eludes him

Zidane has won almost everything there is to win in football, from the World Cup and Champions League to the Ballon d’Or and a horde of domestic titles. But the Copa del Rey remains elusive, both as a player and manager. He won the 2014 Copa del Rey as an assistant to Carlo Ancelotti, but to date he is yet to win Spain’s domestic cup competition as a leading man.

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4. His sons are following in his footballing footsteps

Zidane is the father of four boys, all of which have made careers for themselves in the world of football. Midfielder Enzo is currently on the books of Almeria UD and pushing for promotion out of LaLiga SmartBank, Spain’s second tier. Goalkeeper Luca is currently out on loan from Real Madrid at Racing Santander. Theo and Elyaz and still underage and part of the youth academy at Los Blancos.

5. The most popular Frenchman of all-time

In a 2004 poll in leading French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche, Zidane was voted as the most popular Frenchman of all time. The poll wasn’t limited to sports stars but took all public figures into account, with Zidane’s footballing exploits seeing him picked ahead of other iconic personalities. ZZ explained at the time that he was proud of how someone from an immigrant background could come top in such a poll. Highlighting the importance of racial harmony in modern-day France.

6. Zidane starred in his own documentary

Back in 2006, ZZ was the star of French documentary Zidane, Un Portrait Du 21e Siecle (“Zidane, a 21st century portrait”). This very unique show saw a film crew focus 17 cameras on the Frenchman for the entirety of a Real Madrid match against Villarreal in 2005. But that’s not all he’s done in the world of film; he has also starred in movies such as Goal! II (2007) alongside the likes of Sergio Ramos, David Beckham and Thierry Henry and Asterix at the Olympic Games (2008).

La Liga: New LaLiga Santander 2019/20 season launched in South Africa

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From new signings, a new anthem, new brand sponsorships and an informative roundtable discussion with a former LaLiga player.

LaLiga South African launched the new LaLiga Santander 2019/20 season sharing information around the league’s technological advancements, the Spanish football footprint in Africa and everything spectacular as the season kicks off to a bang!

On the 29th August, the Spanish professional football league launched the season with an exclusive and interactive event at The Capital Empire. During this event, those in attendance were informed about all the 2019/20 season developments, while ensuring the showcase offered media an opportunity to engage and learn from former Bafana Bafana and LaLiga footballer, Nasief Morris.

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La Liga: LaLiga Brings Interactive “LaLiga Space” To The AFCON

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LaLiga has unveiled LaLiga Space, its biggest-ever event in Egypt, to mark the kick-off of the 2019 AFCON in Cairo. Prominent LaLiga Ambassadors and legends of the modern game Samuel Eto’o and Fernando Morientes were at Cairo Festival City Mall to open the three-day event on Thursday afternoon and to meet with both local and international media.

Guests to the interactive space can try their hand at the LaLiga-themed games corner, check out the display of authentic LaLiga jerseys and even have their photos taken on a replica coaches’ bench and with the official LaLiga Santander trophy.

LaLiga’s global star Samuel Eto’o expressed his excitement to be part of the very first LaLiga Space in Egypt. “Egypt is once again leading the way in hosting crucial African and international events,” he said. “Cairo’s previous experience in organising events of this nature make it an ideal and exciting choice for all African teams and also LaLiga.” Moreover, he added that Egyptians and Africans, in general, share a genuine passion for football reflected in their daily routines.

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