On May 25, 2005, Antonio Núñez (Madrid, 1979) lifted the Champions League known as The Miracle of Istanbul. The Spanish footballer belonged to Rafa Benítez's 'Spanish Liverpool' who would turn around an adverse 3-0 defeat in just 45 minutes against Milan led by Carlo Ancelotti. Finally, they would get the historic trophy in the penalty shootout.

10 years later, in 2014/15, Núñez was relegated to 2nd B with Recreativo de Huelva. “They are mentally similar situations. You live them with the same intensity because you are doing a lot and you are aware of all the people behind you,” the former footballer told EL MUNDO.. Four points separated the 'Dean' from salvation, when the previous year he had stayed one point away from the playoff promotion to the First Division. From touching heaven, to hell.

Although Núñez thought about hanging up his boots if that happened, the connection with the fans and the city was such that the footballer, a Real Madrid youth player, stayed with the team for two more years. “Circumstances encouraged me to continue. Recre is an important club”, points out the former player, who now lives between Huelva and Madrid.

“Multiplies it exponentially”

Recreativo de Huelva is the oldest club in Spain with more than 130 years of history. Although it has only played five seasons in the First Division, it is among the 50 most important teams in LaLiga (42nd place).. Real Murcia occupies 32, Hércules CF 29 and RC Deportivo de La Coruña, 12.

The four have been in semi-professional football for several years. Hércules and Real Murcia celebrate 10 years out of professional football, although the people from Alicante do so in the Second RFEF while Murcia managed to be promoted to the First RFEF last year, Recre and Depor, also in the First RFEF, have been 9 and 4 years respectively.

“Just as when you go down from First to Second you lose a lot of income, doing it to First RFEF multiplies it exponentially,” explains Jorge López, a professor of Sports Management at the European University, and details how television earnings are reduced, mainly, but also sponsorships. , which go from a national influence to a regional one and, of course, debt problems appear in a scenario not contemplated. “You cannot think that you are going to go down or you would not compete,” he adds.

Debts

The debt of Recreativo de Huelva finally had to be taken over by the city council itself; from Deportivo, the financial entity Abanca and from Hérculés and Murcia, various private businessmen, some more successful than others. “The entry of Felipe Moreno has been a breath of fresh air, the debt is great because it is added from other seasons. It is being solved and now Murcia is on its way to getting people to talk about the sporting issue and not the economic one”, reveals Paco López, General Director of Real Murcia.

A team, by the way, that was not relegated sportingly but was the result of a judicial decision derived from “non-compliance with financial economic ratios”. Other clubs also suffered declines in the offices such as Guadalajara, Oviedo or Elche, although the latter two have managed to return to professional football 10 and 5 years ago, respectively.

A soccer player from Recre crying after the failure of his team.

Just 10 days ago, Social Security lifted the embargo on Real Murcia accounts. The situation, a few years ago, became critical. «There was a moment here, that I thought the blind would be lowered. Fortunately, the social movement saved the club”, explains José Manuel Sánchez, manager of Real Murcia.

“A large social mass helps because it is easier to generate income and compete in better conditions but there is also greater pressure. It generates more frustration when the objectives are not achieved”, says Jorge López. “We start with the advantage of our fans, but sometimes it is very demanding,” says Paco Peña, Sports Director of Hércules CF. Something that is also experienced in A Coruña.

Three years in a row in Primera RFEF with an average attendance of 20,000 people in the Riazor cheering on a team that has always fought for promotion, but for one reason or another has not been able to achieve it. Goals in extra time, absurd expulsions and all kinds of misfortunes, more typical of a television series than of reality itself. Then every summer a lot of noise until the latter has resulted not only in the departure of the coach, but also of the entire Board of Directors, including the president, to “favor the restructuring process of the Club for the new season.”

each year more difficult

With each passing year, the stay in semi-professional football for this type of club is more complicated due, above all, to its large structures. Depor, for example, budgeted 8 million for the 2022/23 season with almost 5 million in losses. «Many things reduce you, mainly in the sports field. You are reducing the club areas and, if you do not come back in a season, it costs a lot, “reveals the General Director of Real Murcia.

«The more time, the less ability you have to meet your expenses. They are very large teams with a lot of costs for everything they have: youth academy, sports cities…”, adds the professor from the European University. And he is seconded by the Sports Director of Hércules, «We need to go up now, the demand is maximum. It is what we transmit to all the players.

Hercules fans show a protest banner.

First comes the decrease and then, if there has not been good economic management, the feared defaults. “We went 6 or 7 years without getting paid and of course in that situation, the heads of the players were not clean,” reveals the Manager of Real Murcia.

Something that corroborates a player who lived through that situation and who defines it as “the whiting that bites its tail”. «The more economic difficulties, the more sports. It is not that the player does not run, it is that enormous problems are created in the personal life of each one and it ends up affecting their performance, “explains Antonio Núñez and recalls cases of his colleagues at Recre with problems even paying the rent for their own houses.

The formula

The Holy Grail would be finding the effective formula to return to professional football, although José Manuel Sánchez knows that it does not exist since “sometimes teams with small budgets rise, other times, with large ones”. Doing so means adding those 6 million more on television to the merchandising, advertising and subscriptions that these historic clubs have. “In professional football, subscriptions and advertising represent a small percentage, while here, together with the contributions of the owners, it is everything,” says the Manager of Real Murcia.

Antonio Núñez does not have the solution either, but he does give a very simple key “first cover holes and then return”. Because the fans, of this type of historic clubs, will always be there. A Coruña, Murcia, Alicante and Huelva have a population of almost 1.2 million people, 50,000 of them are members of these historic ones who yearn to be great again.

On May 25, 2005, Antonio Núñez (Madrid, 1979) lifted the Champions League known as The Miracle of Istanbul. The Spanish footballer belonged to Rafa Benítez's 'Spanish Liverpool' who would turn around an adverse 3-0 defeat in just 45 minutes against Milan led by Carlo Ancelotti. Finally, they would get the historic trophy in the penalty shootout.

10 years later, in 2014/15, Núñez was relegated to 2nd B with Recreativo de Huelva. “They are mentally similar situations. You live them with the same intensity because you are doing a lot and you are aware of all the people behind you,” the former footballer told EL MUNDO.. Four points separated the 'Dean' from salvation, when the previous year he had stayed one point away from the playoff promotion to the First Division. From touching heaven, to hell.

Although Núñez thought about hanging up his boots if that happened, the connection with the fans and the city was such that the footballer, a Real Madrid youth player, stayed with the team for two more years. “Circumstances encouraged me to continue. Recre is an important club”, points out the former player, who now lives between Huelva and Madrid.

“Multiplies it exponentially”

Recreativo de Huelva is the oldest club in Spain with more than 130 years of history. Although it has only played five seasons in the First Division, it is among the 50 most important teams in LaLiga (42nd place).. Real Murcia occupies 32, Hércules CF 29 and RC Deportivo de La Coruña, 12.

The four have been in semi-professional football for several years. Hércules and Real Murcia celebrate 10 years out of professional football, although the people from Alicante do so in the Second RFEF while Murcia managed to be promoted to the First RFEF last year, Recre and Depor, also in the First RFEF, have been 9 and 4 years respectively.

“Just as when you go down from First to Second you lose a lot of income, doing it to First RFEF multiplies it exponentially,” explains Jorge López, a professor of Sports Management at the European University, and details how television earnings are reduced, mainly, but also sponsorships. , which go from a national influence to a regional one and, of course, debt problems appear in a scenario not contemplated. “You cannot think that you are going to go down or you would not compete,” he adds.

Debts

The debt of Recreativo de Huelva finally had to be taken over by the city council itself; from Deportivo, the financial entity Abanca and from Hérculés and Murcia, various private businessmen, some more successful than others. “The entry of Felipe Moreno has been a breath of fresh air, the debt is great because it is added from other seasons. It is being solved and now Murcia is on its way to getting people to talk about the sporting issue and not the economic one”, reveals Paco López, General Director of Real Murcia.

A team, by the way, that was not relegated sportingly but was the result of a judicial decision derived from “non-compliance with financial economic ratios”. Other clubs also suffered declines in the offices such as Guadalajara, Oviedo or Elche, although the latter two have managed to return to professional football 10 and 5 years ago, respectively.

A soccer player from Recre crying after the failure of his team.

Just 10 days ago, Social Security lifted the embargo on Real Murcia accounts. The situation, a few years ago, became critical. «There was a moment here, that I thought the blind would be lowered. Fortunately, the social movement saved the club”, explains José Manuel Sánchez, manager of Real Murcia.

“A large social mass helps because it is easier to generate income and compete in better conditions but there is also greater pressure. It generates more frustration when the objectives are not achieved”, says Jorge López. “We start with the advantage of our fans, but sometimes it is very demanding,” says Paco Peña, Sports Director of Hércules CF. Something that is also experienced in A Coruña.

Three years in a row in Primera RFEF with an average attendance of 20,000 people in the Riazor cheering on a team that has always fought for promotion, but for one reason or another has not been able to achieve it. Goals in extra time, absurd expulsions and all kinds of misfortunes, more typical of a television series than of reality itself. Then every summer a lot of noise until the latter has resulted not only in the departure of the coach, but also of the entire Board of Directors, including the president, to “favor the restructuring process of the Club for the new season.”

each year more difficult

With each passing year, the stay in semi-professional football for this type of club is more complicated due, above all, to its large structures. Depor, for example, budgeted 8 million for the 2022/23 season with almost 5 million in losses. «Many things reduce you, mainly in the sports field. You are reducing the club areas and, if you do not come back in a season, it costs a lot, “reveals the General Director of Real Murcia.

«The more time, the less ability you have to meet your expenses. They are very large teams with a lot of costs for everything they have: youth academy, sports cities…”, adds the professor from the European University. And he is seconded by the Sports Director of Hércules, «We need to go up now, the demand is maximum. It is what we transmit to all the players.

Hercules fans show a protest banner.

First comes the decrease and then, if there has not been good economic management, the feared defaults. “We went 6 or 7 years without getting paid and of course in that situation, the heads of the players were not clean,” reveals the Manager of Real Murcia.

Something that corroborates a player who lived through that situation and who defines it as “the whiting that bites its tail”. «The more economic difficulties, the more sports. It is not that the player does not run, it is that enormous problems are created in the personal life of each one and it ends up affecting their performance, “explains Antonio Núñez and recalls cases of his colleagues at Recre with problems even paying the rent for their own houses.

The formula

The Holy Grail would be finding the effective formula to return to professional football, although José Manuel Sánchez knows that it does not exist since “sometimes teams with small budgets rise, other times, with large ones”. Doing so means adding those 6 million more on television to the merchandising, advertising and subscriptions that these historic clubs have. “In professional football, subscriptions and advertising represent a small percentage, while here, together with the contributions of the owners, it is everything,” says the Manager of Real Murcia.

Antonio Núñez does not have the solution either, but he does give a very simple key “first cover holes and then return”. Because the fans, of this type of historic clubs, will always be there. A Coruña, Murcia, Alicante and Huelva have a population of almost 1.2 million people, 50,000 of them are members of these historic ones who yearn to be great again.

Spain provokes the feeling in its rivals that protecting itself is the most it can do and that superiority has already led them to the quarterfinals of the European Under-21 Championship in which, with each game that passes, Santi Denia's team shows itself as the most mature selection, creditor of its status as favorite not only for the pedigree but for what it shows on the field. He undressed Romania as soon as it was neglected and Croatia, tender, didn't even let her breathe in the first part to handcuff her comfortably in the second. [Narration and Stats (1-0)]

The Croats left the locker room with the score against. Seven passes from Abel Ruiz's kick-off cost him the ball to return to the Valencian's boot to put the lead on the scoreboard. The left-footed connection between Miranda and Sergio Gómez ended with a cross that, this time, the Braga striker did not miss. On the second ball he touched, he erased that incredible mistake in the debut game.

In this Spain Under-21 there are no experiments, there are no doubts. Denia has a very clear block that accompanies it from the Under-17, with automatisms typical of a club team, which appropriates the ball, moves it quickly to the shores and with their daggers Rodri and Sergio Gómez hit mercilessly. Against Croatia, the central pair Paredes and Pacheco established themselves and only Víctor Gómez on the right side was the novelty in the eleven. The rest works almost like clockwork.

chasing shadows

If Romania held on for 20 minutes, Croatia could not do it for even 20 seconds. The team, at a comfortable pace, was taking the game where it wanted at all times without the Croats finding a way to avoid it. They kneaded or accelerated it at convenience while the rivals chased shadows unable to find Baturina, who appeared well into the first part. By then Spain had already had clear chances to fatten the score. The clearest of Sergio Gómez with a poisoned cross that the goalkeeper Kotarski saved when he was already slipping close to the crossbar.

Croatia had no choice but to wake up. Defeated by Ukraine, a second setback left them out of the competition and the score, despite their superiority, was short. A mistake gave them life. He warned with a header from Frigan and looked for the most biting coach Dragan Skocic. It was more difficult for Spain to approach the area although Sancet had his chance and Miranda a left-footed shot that crashed on the outside of the post. The Betis side is an attack weapon for Denia, but he looked for more on an enviable bench. And it is that the game was becoming uncomfortable.

Arnau's stop

Gabri Veiga, Aimar Oroz and Camello are oxygen cylinders to throw away when short of breath. It was necessary to disturb as a way to contain the desperate rival. They were able to do it in a corner kick taken by Sergio Gómez who walked along the goal line without a finisher. Also in an escape from Rodri, who forced a shot into Kotarski's hands without the possibility of giving Camello the opportunity.

Faced with so much mercy, Croatia was about to give a scare due to Frigan's faith, chasing bad Spanish clearances in the six-yard box until Arnau Tenas said enough was enough. Denia looked at the bench again and propped up the team with Marco Gila and Barrenetxea to get into the quarterfinals on the fast track.

Abel Ruiz's meteoric goal keeps Spain in the lead of the group, with four goals scored and a clean sheet, but they will play it on Tuesday against Ukraine, who have not dropped any points after beating and eliminating Romania. That's where the real championship will start.

Spain provokes the feeling in its rivals that protecting itself is the most it can do and that superiority has already led them to the quarterfinals of the European Under-21 Championship in which, with each game that passes, Santi Denia's team shows itself as the most mature selection, creditor of its status as favorite not only for the pedigree but for what it shows on the field. He undressed Romania as soon as it was neglected and Croatia, tender, didn't even let her breathe in the first part to handcuff her comfortably in the second. [Narration and Stats (1-0)]

The Croats left the locker room with the score against. Seven passes from Abel Ruiz's kick-off cost him the ball to return to the Valencian's boot to put the lead on the scoreboard. The left-footed connection between Miranda and Sergio Gómez ended with a cross that, this time, the Braga striker did not miss. On the second ball he touched, he erased that incredible mistake in the debut game.

In this Spain Under-21 there are no experiments, there are no doubts. Denia has a very clear block that accompanies it from the Under-17, with automatisms typical of a club team, which appropriates the ball, moves it quickly to the shores and with their daggers Rodri and Sergio Gómez hit mercilessly. Against Croatia, the central pair Paredes and Pacheco established themselves and only Víctor Gómez on the right side was the novelty in the eleven. The rest works almost like clockwork.

chasing shadows

If Romania held on for 20 minutes, Croatia could not do it for even 20 seconds. The team, at a comfortable pace, was taking the game where it wanted at all times without the Croats finding a way to avoid it. They kneaded or accelerated it at convenience while the rivals chased shadows unable to find Baturina, who appeared well into the first part. By then Spain had already had clear chances to fatten the score. The clearest of Sergio Gómez with a poisoned cross that the goalkeeper Kotarski saved when he was already slipping close to the crossbar.

Croatia had no choice but to wake up. Defeated by Ukraine, a second setback left them out of the competition and the score, despite their superiority, was short. A mistake gave them life. He warned with a header from Frigan and looked for the most biting coach Dragan Skocic. It was more difficult for Spain to approach the area although Sancet had his chance and Miranda a left-footed shot that crashed on the outside of the post. The Betis side is an attack weapon for Denia, but he looked for more on an enviable bench. And it is that the game was becoming uncomfortable.

Arnau's stop

Gabri Veiga, Aimar Oroz and Camello are oxygen cylinders to throw away when short of breath. It was necessary to disturb as a way to contain the desperate rival. They were able to do it in a corner kick taken by Sergio Gómez who walked along the goal line without a finisher. Also in an escape from Rodri, who forced a shot into Kotarski's hands without the possibility of giving Camello the opportunity.

Faced with so much mercy, Croatia was about to give a scare due to Frigan's faith, chasing bad Spanish clearances in the penalty area until Arnau Tenas said enough was enough. Denia looked at the bench again and propped up the team with Marco Gila and Barrenetxea to get into the quarterfinals on the fast track.

Abel Ruiz's meteoric goal keeps Spain in the lead of the group, with four goals scored and a clean sheet, but they will play it on Tuesday against Ukraine, who have not dropped any points after beating and eliminating Romania. That's where the real championship will start.

Spain could not be vertigo. In a game destined for a more hectic ending than he would have liked, he ended up beating Hungary (69-60) and will fight for gold in the Eurobasket. Alba Torrens, author of 27 points after a very high-voltage first half, and Maite Cazorla (16 points) were the great offensive arguments of a team always supportive and perfectly built from a relentless defense when their gears are well aligned. Some tasks, the destructive ones, in which once again the work carried out by Laura Gil must be highlighted, always ready to sacrifice the personal for the collective.

It will be the sixth final for Spain, in search of its fifth continental title after the golds of 1993, 2013, 2017 and 2019. And the first for Belgium, who got rid of France in the other semifinal (67-63) thanks to Emma Meesseman (24 points) and Julie Vanloo (18).. After the bronzes of 2017 and 2021, the Belgian Cats are emerging as a formidable challenge for the group led by Miguel Méndez, who after the defeat in their debut against Latvia has been increasing their performance in an amazing way.

The usual defensive intensity once again colored the opening stages of the semifinal, with an exchange of blows between Alba Torrens and Cyesha Goree. Despite the constant alternatives on the scoreboard, the feelings were tremendously positive.

Triples for 36-20

In fact, the optimism was confirmed during the second period, with a 18-6 run that allowed Spain to open a gap of 16 points (36-20).. Alba Torrens, again, and Maite Cazorla, each with two triples, contributed decisively to give Hungary a hard blow from which, however, the rival would end up recovering thanks to a final arreón from Agnes Studer, who would send the clash to rest with a 38-28. The destructive work of the team crystallized in several losses of the rival, one of the keys to a second act that could have been even more decisive for Spain.

After the break, despite the fact that they managed to get back 16 points up with a very good start, Hungary, putting one more gear in defense, managed to cut the gap to four points with a 4-18 run, thanks to the timely appearances by Reka Lelik, Veronika Kanyasi and the tournament giant, Bernadett Hatar (2.08 m.), who would send the duel to the last quarter with a 50-46 score.

In the last period, the Hungarians redoubled their efforts to get three points behind (56-53), but Spain, recovering its best performance in defensive tasks and with the timely appearance of Maite Cazorla, would know how to grit its teeth to suffer just enough. With a final quarter of 13-7, in which Studer's pulse trembled again on free throws, his great Achilles heel in this tournament, the team led by Miguel Méndez achieved a more than deserved victory by 69 -60 that puts him, again, in the grand final of a European.

This year 2023 is being especially fateful for Marc Márquez. For now, he has already found his bones on the ground up to 14 times. A very high number, despite the fact that he has always been characterized by going to the limit with his driving. The fourteenth crash, in fact, was nothing short of inexplicable for a driver of his stature: an oversight when looking back that caused him to end up colliding with Bastianini when they were both rolling slowly. Perhaps, the sum of all the negative circumstances that he is going through this year have ended up making a dent in a pilot capable of signing saves that are little less than implausible and who, on the other hand, are conspicuous by their absence this season.

It is clear that the Honda of this 2023 is an almost indomitable mount, designed to be driven to the limit. And that, precisely, is the first of the key points to take into account to explain why Márquez is adding so many falls. Right now, you are trying to do things that seemed almost effortless just a few years ago.. When it seemed that he would end up on the asphalt, he managed to continue on his mount as if nothing had happened.. The serious injuries he has suffered in recent seasons, especially the one that affected his right shoulder, mean that he is not physically the same as before.. And if we add to that a motorcycle that is causing problems for all its riders, the sum becomes quite explosive.. To make up for it, risk. And now, almost always, tails come up instead of heads.

«In Germany we suffered more than expected, I also said that I would risk, and I risked, and it went wrong. The last fall, however, was already without risk, because on Saturday I had already thrown in the towel, but the fall came, so it's time to go little by little, with lead feet, to see if we can improve the project for the future », assured Márquez himself last Thursday. However, he was not exactly cautious, he fell again on Friday and, this Saturday, he showed that all this is taking its toll on a mental level with the clash with Bastianini.

Mental level bill

«On a mental level, it is the hardest moment of my sports career, aside from injuries. It's time to keep working, then I'll have a week and a half to rest and then start preparing Silverstone”, he confessed after a sprint race in Assen in which Marco Bezzecchi, who had previously achieved pole position ahead of Pecco Bagnaia and Luca Marini, also took the win.

Precisely, the fact that others have taken away that place of prominence that he used to have in the paddock is another of the reasons that would explain the large number of falls of Marc Márquez. None of the riders at the top, of course, is willing to lose the relevance that, by hand, they have been gaining in recent times. The challenge is growing. And, to respond to this challenge, it is not enough for the Spanish to remain with half measures. Something that, in addition, would also be completely out of his nature, of that special touch that led him to win six MotoGP world champion titles.

At the machine level, meanwhile, great miracles cannot be done either: the regulations do not allow presenting a completely new motorcycle for the next races. In the atmosphere that is breathed in the circuits there is the full conviction that Honda is taking good note of all the problems that are occurring this year and that it will be able to find an ideal solution for each and every one of them.. Even if you have to make a clean slate. Although, yes, with a view to the next course.