La Fábrica

La Fábrica (English: "The Factory") is the name given to Real Madrid's farm system and academy. Considered one of the best player development centres in the world, La Fábrica has produced a number of players that have contributed to Real Madrid's sustained sporting success since its inception.[2]

La Fábrica
The entrance of Ciudad Real Madrid (Real Madrid City), the club's training complex.
Alternative namesThe Factory
General information
TypeFarm system
LocationSpain
Town or cityMadrid
Current tenantsReal Madrid
Real Madrid Castilla
La Fábrica
Groundbreaking1942
Renovated2005[1]
Renovation cost€100 million[1]
OwnerReal Madrid
Website
www.realmadrid.com/futbol/cantera

La Fábrica is housed in Ciudad Real Madrid, Real Madrid's training facility located in Valdebebas.[3][1]

History
Raúl, Former European competitions record goalscorer, Former Real Madrid record goalscorer, and third all-Time La Liga goalscorer, is also a La Fábrica alumnus.

In 1942, AD Plus Ultra, a local Madrid club then in the Spanish Third Division, agreed to become Real Madrid's feeder club in return for financial support. In 1972, AD Plus Ultra became Real's official reserve team, known today as Real Madrid Castilla.[4] RM Castilla is the most successful reserve side in the history of Spanish football, having amassed more points in the Spanish Second Division than any other reserve side.[5] In 1980, RM Castilla even reached the final of the Copa del Rey, Spain's premier domestic cup competition, where they lost the title to Real Madrid's first team squad.[4]

Similarly, in the 1950s, Real Madrid Aficionados (English: Real Madrid Amateurs) was formed as an amateur competitive team affiliated with Real Madrid. That club eventually became Real Madrid C, and served as Real's second reserve team – after RM Castilla – until the team was disbanded in 2015.

The youth academy system itself was established and developed in the 1950s by former Real Madrid Aficionados player Miguel Malbo under the tutelage of the then-Real Madrid president, Santiago Bernabéu. Malbo went on to serve as Director of La Fábrica for over 50 years. Isidoro San José, former Real Madrid player, La Fábrica alumnus and deputy director at La Fábrica, said of Malbo's legacy at Real Madrid, "In his day, he was one of the people that contributed most to Real Madrid, and to Madrid's cantera." [6]

Since its beginnings in the 1950s, countless players have progressed through the ranks of La Fábrica's youth academy, and some of these graduates have contributed to Real Madrid's formidable sporting success both domestically and internationally. Some periods of success are particularly noteworthy. Between 1955 and 1965, Real Madrid won eight La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey and six UEFA Champions Leagues. A number of La Fábrica graduates contributed to Real's success in these years, including Pedro Casado, Enrique Mateos, Gregorio Benito, Juan Santisteban, Manuel Velázquez, Ramón Grosso, Fernando Serena and Ramón Marsal.

Moreover, in the 1980s Real Madrid won five consecutive La Liga titles, two consecutive UEFA Europa Leagues (then known as the UEFA Cup), and reached three consecutive Champions League (then known as the European Cup) semi-finals with a squad composed mostly of players formed at La Fábrica. This fabulous batch of "homegrown" Real Madrid players included Emilio Butragueño, Chendo, Manolo Sanchís, Ricardo Gallego, Míchel, Sebastián Losada, Miguel Pardeza and Rafael Martín Vázquez.[2]

Organization

Real Madrid Castilla is a fully professional team; all other teams at La Fábrica are youth teams including everything from under-19-year-olds to under-8-year-olds. Each youth team competes in a league of its own. Youth players must aspire to progress through the ranks if they wish to eventually debut in Real's first-team squad.[1] La Fábrica has more than 270 youth players spread across all 12 youth teams.

Iker Casillas, considered by some to be the best goalkeeper of his generation and a five-time consecutive winner of FIFA/FIFPro World's Best Goalkeeper Award, is also a La Fábrica graduate.
SquadAgeHead CoachAssistant CoachLeague
Real Madrid Castilla–José Manuel DíazSantiago SánchezSegunda División B (Gr. 1)
Juvenil A16–18Daniel PoyatosAlberto GarridoDivisión de Honor (Gr. 5)
Juvenil B16–18Álvaro BenitoDiego Nogales

Liga Nacional (Gr. 12)

Juvenil C16–18Manuel FernándezJuan José Vallina

Primera División Autonómica (Gr. 1)

Cadete A14–15Tristán CeladorSebastián ParrillaPrimera División Autonómica (Gr. 1)
Cadete B14–15Raúl González[7]Abián PerdomoPrimera División Autonómica (Gr. 2)
Infantil A12–13Xabi Alonso[8]Javier Morán

División de Honor (Gr. 1)

Infantil B12–13Juanjo CrespoEduardo DíazDivisión de Honor (Gr. 2)
Alevín A10–11Roberto TomásDavid GonzálezPrimera División Autonómica (Gr. 2)
Alevín B10–11José Luis PleieteAlberto del CastilloPrimera División Autonómica (Gr. 1)
Benjamín A8–9Rubén BarriosFernando JiménezPreferente (Gr. 7)
Benjamín B8–9Víctor CarvajalEnrique JiménezPreferente (Gr. 7)
Prebenjamín6–7Juan Carlos JuárezAlberto BorregueroFútbol 7 (Gr. 30)

References
Notes
  1. Alex Clapham (21 March 2018). "Inside Real Madrid's academy: 'Only a certain type of person succeeds here'". Caño Football. Retrieved 24 February 2019 – via The Guardian.
  2. "The Real Madrid of La Quinta". Marca. 22 May 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  3. "YPT Visits: An inside look at Real Madrid's new training facility". Youth Professional Training. Archived from the original on 2018-02-23. Retrieved 2013-07-20.
  4. "Tal día como hoy... en 1972". Real Madrid (in Spanish). 21 June 2010. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  5. "Clasificación histórica de Segunda División ~ por temporadas desde 1928 hasta 2013 ~". La Futbolteca (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  6. del Moral, Patricia (11 June 2009). "El Padre de la cantera". Real Madrid (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  7. "Raul Cadet B wins Barça his first title of the season". Real Madrid. 2 September 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  8. Redondo, Eduardo (28 August 2018). "Xabi Alonso set to make his coaching debut". Marca. Translated by Brooke, Charlie. Unidad Editorial Información Deportiva, S.L.U. Retrieved 16 May 2020.

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