Spain World Cup Idol Vicente Del Bosque Raises A New Wave Of Players

Vicente del Bosque is 74 and has done a lot in the game. Although rarely front and center of soccer talk now, he’s the same wise guardian who coached Spain’s national team for most of its dominant era between 2008 and 2012, which says everything you need to know.

Or does it? In 2011—in between leading Spain to consecutive trophies—the respected míster started the Vicente del Bosque Academy. Its nerve centers are in the capital, Madrid, and on the island of Mallorca, yet it’s since become an international operation.

While the academy supports aspiring professional players, its primary aim is to spread Del Bosque’s knowledge and values to youngsters in nations such as the United States and China. Spain produces one of the highest volumes of qualified and well-known trainers, many from the Basque Country—incoming Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso among them—and the project educates budding coaches, too.

Players-wise, such is the depth and quality of performance-centered academies across the country, the next Lamine Yamal or Pedri is unlikely to come from under Del Bosque’s watch. However, a band of pros influenced by the La Roja legend is now coming through. 22-year-old Javi Llabres is on the cusp of Mallorca’s first team. Meanwhile, 19-year-old Lucía Corrales has tasted senior soccer for Women’s Champions League finalist Barcelona. Each was present during the academy’s early days.

“Everyone, when they think about Don Vicente del Bosque and Spanish football, they surely think about the successes—the first springing to mind is the World Cup (2010) and European Championships (2012) over the last 20 years,” the academy director Pau Albertí tells me in an interview. “But I think it started from good work previously. From a solid coaching base.”

Over the past 14 years, more than 18,000 young people from 28 countries have gotten involved in the program, Albertí says. The initiative is also behind Mallorca’s International Football Cup, the next edition in June, which hosts academy talents from Atlético Madrid and Benfica (the latter generates the most profit worldwide) and a few more obscure clubs. It held a Women’s Tournament on the same patch in April.

Del Bosque’s Work Is About More Than Sporting Excellence

Del Bosque is the only coach to win the World Cup, Euros, and Champions League (this one with Real Madrid in 2000 and 2002). Before that, he spent most of his playing career at Los Blancos. More recently, in 2024, he was appointed head of a committee to supervise Spain’s soccer federation (RFEF) in the wake of ex-chief Luis Rubiales’ departure and an inquest into corruption within the organization.

And throughout, winning prizes and promotions have not only motivated Del Bosque.

“He intends to transmit his experiences as a footballer to youngsters. He was in charge of the Real Madrid academy for many years and then had the chance to rise to professional football, but his idea was just not that,” Albertí continues.

“Secondly (after the success), I think the most important thing of all is how he is as a person, the values he transmits, his calm temperament, his good management of the group, always knowing when to help everyone in whatever situation.”

A highlight for the academy came in 2019 at the Donosti Cup, a massive youth competition hosted in San Sebastián. Instead of collecting the trophy, it left with a sportsmanship award. Another point of pride is helping individuals with disabilities. That includes creating sports scholarships and focused support for persons with intellectual challenges.

Even though he can’t make every overseas meet as the academy nears a decade and a half of service, Del Bosque is still the figurehead. And the veteran is an authority in Real Madrid circles. “Don’t let them see any weakness in you,” is his advice to Alonso (Spanish), who is about to inhabit one of the most scrutinized jobs in the sport.

His reach extends beyond elite competition and even soccer, though—to those looking to apply the game’s learnings from the game elsewhere. For him, the human being is always at the center.