Strong, stable, solid, secure - Miguel Torres, the La Liga regular with waning recognition (9th January, 2018)

He is a fullback. Not quick, but hardworking. Not tall, but high in stature. Not relaxed, but composed. Not spectacular, but reliable.

His 32nd birthday is coming up this month, and he has already spent 11 seasons in La Liga. But this season, the seasoned veteran has been relegated to the reserves. His top-flight career is waning.

And so his story must be told.

Born in Madrid, Torres joined Real Madrid's junior teams at the age of 12. He made his first-team debut against Écija Balompié as a starter, in a Copa del Rey game in October 2006, because of injuries to defenders Fabio Cannavaro, Cicinho and Míchel Salgado. He also played in the return leg as a substitute, replacing Sergio Ramos in the 80th minute, and also started in both cup matches against Real Betis, sporting jersey No. 38 in these games and throughout the season.

His rise in standing at the club was quick from there - Torres made his La Liga debut in his fourth consecutive appearance for Real Madrid, playing the whole 90 minutes against Real Zaragoza in January 2007 (1-0 home win). He kept his place in the side the following week for the game against Mallorca, with that performance leading coach Fabio Capello to state: "It is not easy to find a player with as much personality and talent in attack and defence as Torres".

In February 2007, against Real Sociedad, Torres made his first assist: after a quick run on the left flank he provided a left-footed (he is right-footed by nature) cross for Ruud van Nistelrooy, whose header found the net as Madrid came from behind to win it away 2-1.

With Torres as an important piece (first appearing in round 18, he only missed three contests until the end of the campaign, starting in all but one), Real Madrid won its 30th league title. However, he was unable to play in the deciding game against Mallorca due to a hamstring tear, but nevertheless in July 2007 he signed his first professional contract, joining the main squad permanently from Real Madrid Castilla.

Although Torres appeared in more league games in the following season, he would start significantly less (as Madrid repeated league honours), primarily due to the signing of Argentine Gabriel Heinze. In that year he switched back to number 22, which he previously wore with Castilla.

Miguel Torres of Real Madrid controls the ball during the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Zaragoza at the Santiago Bernabéu on January 6, 2008 - Real Madrid won the match 2-0.

For the 2009-10 campaign, Torres changed to No. 2 following Salgado's departure to Blackburn Rovers. However, on 31 August - transfer deadline day - he moved to neighbours Getafe on a five-year contract, with Real having the option to rebuy in the first two. He became an undisputed starter for the next two seasons; however, in the 2011-12 season, under new manager Luis García, Torres was challenged by new signing Juan Valera for the right-back position. Nevertheless, he still appeared in more than 20 league games as the Madrid outskirts team again retained their division status.

In August 2013, Torres joined Olympiacos from Greece on a three-year deal worth a reported €500,000, reuniting with Míchel who also coached him at Getafe and Real Madrid Castilla. However, after only ten competitive games he returned to Spain's top flight a year later, signing a one-year contract at Málaga with the option of two more.

Lucas Vazquez of Real Madrid competes for the ball with Miguel Torres of Málaga during a La Liga match at La Rosaleda on February 21, 2016.

He wasn't destined for much game time this season - and has played just one game so far. And yet, in October 2017, he was renewed until 2020. Yes, he may not start.

But starters are not always the hero. The flashy guy is not always the hero. He is a hero - the silent hero. The ordinary reliable, dependable, hardworking man.

Ismael Urzaiz and Salamanca. A 22 team La Liga. Trust and Víctor Casadesús (9th June, 2017)

Salamanca traveled to Albacete to compete for promotion to La Liga with an impossible task on their hands. They had to overturn a 2-0 deficit away from home, against a side that entered La Liga's relegation playoff spots on the final day, and who had scored 44 goals in the league - just four less than Salamanca themselves. As the clock ticked towards the 90th minute, Salamanca were winning 1-0 yet in danger of losing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Born in Tudela, Navarre, Urzaiz began his professional career at Real Madrid's B-side, making his debut in Segunda División in 1989. Despite being a successful youth international, he did not make any La Liga appearances for the first team (however, he did play one game against Odense BK, in the 1990–91 European Cup). Urzaiz spent the 1991–92 season on loan at Albacete Balompié, making his top flight debut when he came on as a substitute against Athletic Bilbao in October 1991. In early 1993, he was loaned to Celta de Vigo

Non-league Incider: St Helens Town 3-0 Atherton Laburnum Rovers

Last game: 8th August: Dulwich Hamlet 2-1 East Thurrock United The previous day, I was blown away by my first ever football match experience. Dulwich Hamlet impressed me, but what impressed me more was the journey. The travel to the stadium was just as enjoyable as the football itself. I had caught the groundhopping bug. There were no games scheduled for the 9th of August. There was one, near Wigan, and all I had booked earlier was a refundable bus ticket from Manchester Airport leaving at quarter past midnight. I should have refunded it. This was a mistake. This whole day was a mistake. I was only slightly hungover from the previous night, but that was nothing compared to this feeling of loss - I couldn't handle the fact that there was a game happening. And I wasn't too far away. Just three hours and a bit. They'll fly by , I thought. I was in autopilot. Something within me made me get up, grab a bag, and get out the door. This wasn't me. I wasn't trave

Non-league Incider: Cray Valley Paper Mills 4-4 Punjab United Gravesend

Last game: 9th August: St Helens Town 3-0 Atherton Laburnum Rovers After ripping up my groundhopping calendar, mostly because I was determined to avoid overnight travel, and partly due to other commitments, there was a period of time where non-league football took a backseat. But that period did not last long. Because of course it didn't. Secretly, I'd loved travelling over ten hours back-and-forth to watch some 10th division football. And this was 9th division football in London. When I had gone to East Dulwich exactly a week back , I had commented on how the amount of graffiti struck me as I watched from on board a southeastern train. I was going the exact same way, but much further this time - then I had stopped at Denmark Hill, now I would have to go six stations further. The graffiti I had thought was so emblematic of south London quickly disappeared, as did the tall buildings desperately cluttered together. We, and by we I mean me, were going to the suburb

The Pride of Vallekas

Search This Blog