What was going to be a short conversation becomes (this time because of the interviewee) in a 25-minute conversation.
Nuria Martínez (Madrid, age does not matter) talk a lot, and very fast, and very well.
She explains her professional career of her, extensive and changing, at almost rap rhythm.
Nuria is the woman who debuted last Wednesday in San Siro as Team Manager of the Spanish national team.
She formerly she was saying “delegate,” but in 2021 she does not.
Nuria has taken over Silvia Dorschnerova, one of the iconic images of the national team, which she exercised as a delegate (there was not yet ‘Team Manager) for 19 years.
Nuria worked on a brand, in AS, in a service company to athletes such as Youfirst, at Athético de Madrid, in AFE and, now, in the Federation.
“I was a little surprised by Luis Rubiales, but I soon accepted, because I am a restless ass,” she explains, and she corroborates her the curriculum.
Degree in journalism, traveler, athlete, she has been since last June living with Silvia to learn.
Who else and whoever knows what is the work of a delegate in modest football (in modest soccer there is no team manager either).
Take the chips to the referee, place the pennants in the corners, accompany the referee … here no.
It explains Nuria.
“Weeks ago we made a prospecting trip, from the hand of UEFA, Milan and Turin.
We teach us hotel options, training centers, etc … and then, there is a meeting where they explain how the competition will go: requirements, obligations, number of accreditations that give you, Covid protocols, etc …
“, bill.
For example, and this does not say it, UEFA has forced the participating selections to remain in Italy after the semifinals.
The intention of Luis Enrique was to return to Spain, but could not be.
In these meetings, details are dealt with such apparently nimia as, for example, the obligation to deliver a pennant signed by the captain to the rival at the beginning of the party.
All that information Nuria is transferred to the different departments of the Federation.
And then?
Follow Nuria: “About 15 days before knowing the list, the coach makes a preselection, and I communicate to all the clubs which players of yours are.
Then, when the list is final and Luis makes it public, I transfer to the clubs what each player should bring: passport, the Greenpass of the Covid, etc … and I ask the delegates of the teams to finish the matches of
The day, notify that everything is ok ».
“When the players arrive, I take care of picking up their passports and rest of documentation to check that they coincide with what we have uploaded to the UEFA online platform.
From there, and when we traveled out like these days, I take care that everything necessary for workouts (ice, water, material, etc …) is available to the equipment and there are no delays, no failures, ”
account, and we arrived like that on the morning of the match: “In the morning, usually at 10, a field inspection is made: the lawn, the changing rooms, the harrow, etc … then, usually at 10.30, there is a
Meeting with UEFA and the contrary federation.
To that meeting I have to wear a player’s clothes and the goalkeeper, including gloves, to give the ok, “explain someone who sleeps an average of five hours these days.
And the match arrives.
“When you arrive at the stadium, UEFA gives you the poster of the changes.
And then you have to raise the alignment to the UEFA online platform before a specific time, which is agreed in the morning.
You also go to UEFA Salit and Check that team analysts have everything that has previously been agreed: adequate technology, the necessary cables, etc … ».
That is, it does not bring the chips to the referee.
Serie.
“No, no, it’s all online, with the laptop, so the concern is to have a connection to do all these things.”
Modern football.
By the way, how is the selection inside?
“It’s a wonderful group, very close, where we are a family and everyone treats you like one more.
From the president, from which everything is part, going through the coach and the last player. ”