Valencia Director: "Attractive Football Is Impossible These Days"

[Pat Murphy]

Valencia have named Miguel Angel Ruiz as new sports director.

Ruiz succeeds Amedeo Carboni, who was given his cards by Valencia president Juan Soler last week in a battle of wills with coach Quique Sanchez Flores.

Ruiz, who was sports director with Atletico Madrid between 1994 and 2000, has been running courses on behalf of the Spanish Football Federation for sports directors and among his former students was Carboni.

from Tribal

Pupil fired and the teacher replaces him. Hopefully this new Sporting Director will not start another World War with Quique Flores. If Valencia can get the balance right next season then they can win La Liga.

[BlackNess]

sporting director, Miguel Angel Ruiz, lamented the demise of sexy football during an interview with Spanish sports daily Marca. With Los Che being a member of the influential G-14 group of elite clubs, this declaration could reflect a sad reality for the highest level of football...


Miguel Angel Ruiz, director of sport at the Mestalla, launched a scathing attack on the state of modern football during an interview with Marca.

Valencia, twice Spanish champions this century, have had a chequered history that's seen them fluctuate between the very top of the continental game and indeed the Spanish second division, but there's little denying that today they are one of the continent's most prestigious clubs. What's more, as part of G-14, the grouping of elite clubs including Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan, Inter and Manchester United, they are a symbol of the brave new world of ultra-high level football.

Yet the sporting director, who may be expected to toe the line of brilliant soccer espoused by marketing men at UEFA, has in fact decided that the current system has its flaws that manifest themselves everywhere from the boardroom to the football pitch itself.

First, Ruiz insisted that the current transfer market system was absurd. "Nobody is worth 30 million euros, but that's the state of the market. There is little difference between a 30 million euro player and a 5 million euro player sometimes. It all depends on position. Most players are in fact somewhat equal, except the very few who are exceptional," he said.

He moved on to discuss the state of football in general and, in what can be considered a swipe at saturated coverage, declared attractive football "impossible." He argued, "The debate of the 'pretty game' is pointless... to play attractive football is impossible because there is so much equality, and so much known about soccer. All teams are known, most players are equal and only a tiny minority can make a difference. For me, to play well is to know how to take advantage of individual moments in a match."

Seemingly, then, his own philosophy is that, to succeed in the modern game, one must play a containing game with an opportunist streak. While it doesn't delight the fans, this approach has certainly brought about results for more than a few teams in recent years.

However, others may point out that Barcelona and Real Madrid are both moving towards an exciting, attacking game for the new season...

[unitedfan]

Sounds like bs to me. Other teams play attractve football - you'd have to be a fool not to notice it. Look at Arsenal - they can play without Henry, without Fabregas, and still play an attractive game. And Barcelona and United win with attractive football. It's a style of play, and it may make it harder against the big teams, fair enough, but why couldn't Valencia play a club outside the top 4 or 5 and play attractive football?

And as of the transfer market argument - it works like this: you want a player, you pay for him - you're free to haggle, but that's it. Besides look at other sports. Apparently, one Japanese Baseball player moved for something like $100m, with a $30m signing on fee not long ago. Sport makes a lot of money, and players are the main assets of sport, they therefore cost a lot.

[LAF]

As unitedfan said it's rubbish. You can play football anyway you want. You just aren't guarenteed to win.

I think right now Man Utd are the most attractive team to watch in Europe. They have managed to combine it all and win things at the same time.

Also a smaller team in the PL Reading have amazing success, just missing out on a UEFA cup spot. They played fantastic counter football where everybody and their dog would charge for the box.

It can be done if you are committed.