La Fábrica

Above, the entrance to Ciudad Real Madrid ("Real Madrid City"), where La Fábrica youth players as well as Real Madrid's professional squad train daily.

'La Fábrica' (English: "The Factory") is the name given to the Real Madrid Youth Academy and player farm system, or "cantera." It is a world class youth academy that has contributed to Real Madrid's sporting success throughout its history. For instance, 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 UEFA Champions League semi-finals with a squad composed mostly of players formed at La Fábrica. This batch of "homegrown" Real Madrid players included Emilio Butragueño, Chendo, Manolo Sanchís, Ricardo Gallego, Míchel, Sebastián Losada, Miguel Pardeza and Rafael Martín Vázquez.[1]

La Fábrica is housed in Ciudad Real Madrid, Real Madrid's new training facilities located just outside Madrid in Valdebebas. Inaugurated in 2005 after Real Madrid invested €100 million to develop it, Ciudad Real Madrid serves as the training ground for all teams associated with the club, from the fully professional first-team squad, to the under-8 Prebenjamín youth team.[2]

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.[3] 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.[4] In 1980, RM Castilla even reached the final of the Copa del Rey, Spain's premier domestic cup competition, where ironically they lost the title to Real Madrid's first team squad.[3]

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 today serves as Real's second reserve team, after RM Castilla.

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." [5]

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 particuarlly successful periods are especially 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, as noted above, 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.[1]

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. La Fábrica has more than 270 youth players spread across all 12 youth teams.

Iker Casillas, considered by some to be the best goalkeeper in modern football 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 CastillaLuis Miguel RamisJosé Manuel GilSegunda División B (Gr. 2)
Juvenil A16-18Santiago SolariSantiago SánchezDivisión de Honor (Gr. 5)
Juvenil B16-18GutiDavid GonzálezLiga Nacional (Gr. 12)
Juvenil C16-18Tristán CeladorJuan José VallinaPrimera División Autonómica (Gr. 1)
Cadete A14–15Álvaro BenitoCarlos del ReyPrimera División Autonómica (Gr. 1)
Cadete B14–15Pedro SánchezJavier MoránPrimera División Autonómica (Gr. 2)
Infantil A12–13Sebastián ParrillaDavid ViejoDivisión de Honor (Gr. 1)
Infantil B12–13Alberto GarridoNebojša MiličićDivisión de Honor (Gr. 2)
Alevín A10–11Alejandro DoradoEnrique JiménezPrimera División Autonómica (Gr. 1)
Alevín B10–11Daniel Guindos-Primera División Autonómica (Gr. 2)
Benjamín A8–9Nacho FerrerFernando JiménezFútbol 7 (Gr. 32)
Benjamín B8–9Abián PerdomoJesús BargueirasFútbol 7 (Gr. 33)
Prebenjamín6–7Víctor CarvajalJaime TorcalFútbol 7 (Gr. 29)

Notable Alumni

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.

Below is a sortable list of notable La Fábrica alumni throughout history. The information listed below is current as of the 2014–15 football season. Unless explicitly cited, all of the following information was obtained through the Wikipedia pages corresponding to the respective players.

Name Years in La FábricaLa Liga Appearances for Real MadridTitles Won as Senior Professional Player
Arbeloa, ÁlvaroÁlvaro Arbeloa2000–20061491 La Liga, 2 Copa del Rey, 1 Supercopa de España, 1 FIFA World Cup, 2 UEFA European Championship, 1 UEFA Champions League
Morata, ÁlvaroÁlvaro Morata2008–2013371 La Liga, 2 Copa del Rey, 1 Supercopa de España, 1 UEFA Champions League, 1 Serie A, 1 Coppa Italia
Valero, BorjaBorja Valero1995–20070-
Chendo1977–19833637 La Liga, 2 Copa del Rey, 5 Supercopa de España, 1 UEFA Champions League, 2 UEFA Cup, 1 Copa de la Liga, 1 Copa Iberoamericana
Carvajal, DaniDani Carvajal2002-2012631 UEFA Champions League, 1 Copa del Rey
López, DiegoDiego López2000–2005541 La Liga, 1 UEFA Champions League, 1 Copa del Rey
Butragueño, EmilioEmilio Butragueño1981–19843416 La Liga, 2 Copa del Rey, 4 Supercopa de España, 2 UEFA Cup, 1 Copa de la Liga, 1 Copa Iberoamericana
Mateos, EnriqueEnrique Mateos1951–1953[6]525 La Liga, 5 UEFA Champions Leagues, 1 Intercontinental Cup, 2 Latin Cup
Cambiasso, EstebanEsteban Cambiasso1996–1998141 La Liga, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 1 Supercopa de España, 1 Argentine Primera División, 1 UEFA Champions League, 5 Serie A, 4 Coppa Italia, 4 Supercoppa Italiana, 1 FIFA Club World Cup
Granero, EstebanEsteban Granero1996–2008671 La Liga, 1 Copa del Rey, 1 Supercopa de España
Benito, GregorioGregorio Benito1963–19663176 La Liga, 5 Copa del Rey
Casillas, IkerIker Casillas1990–19995105 La Liga, 2 Copa del Rey, 4 Supercopa de España, 3 UEFA Champions Leagues, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 1 FIFA World Cup, 2 UEFA European Championship
García, JaviJavi García1996–2007181 Supercopa de España, 1 Primeira Liga, 3 Taça da Liga, 1 Premier League, 1 Football League Cup
Jesé2007–2013361 La Liga, 1 UEFA Champions League, 1 Copa del Rey, 1 FIFA Club World Cup
Callejón, JoséJosé Callejón2002–2008551 La Liga, 1 Supercopa de España, 1 Coppa Italia, 1 Supercoppa Italiana
Jurado, José ManuelJosé Manuel Jurado2000s–200631 UEFA Europa League, 1 UEFA Intertoto Cup, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 1 DFB-Pokal, 1 DFL-Supercup
Mata, JuanJuan Mata2003–2007[7]01 Copa del Rey, 1 FA Cup, 1 UEFA Champions League, 1 UEFA Europa League, 1 FIFA World Cup, 1 UEFA European Championship
Santisteban, JuanJuan Santisteban1952–1956864 La Liga, 4 UEFA Champions Leagues, 1 Intercontinental Cup, 1 Latin Cup
Juanfran2002–200661 La Liga, 2 Copa del Rey, 1 Supercopa de España, 1 UEFA Europa League, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 1 UEFA European Championship
Guti1986–19963875 La Liga, 4 Supercopa de España, 3 UEFA Champions Leagues, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 2 Intercontinental Cup, 1 Turkish Cup
Kiko Casilla2003–20070 -
Sanchís, ManoloManolo Sanchís1979–19845238 La Liga, 2 Copa del Rey, 5 Supercopa de España, 2 UEFA Champions Leagues, 2 UEFA Cups, 1 Intercontinental Cup, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 1 Copa de la Liga, 1 Copa Iberoamericana
Velázquez, ManuelManuel Velázquez1958–1962, 1964-19653016 La Liga, 3 Copa del Rey, 1 UEFA Champions League
García Remón, MarianoMariano García Remón1966–1970[6]1776 La Liga, 4 Copa del Rey
Míchel1976–19844046 La Liga, 2 Copa del Rey, 3 Supercopa de España, 2 UEFA Cup, 1 Copa de la Liga, 1 Copa Iberoamericana
Pardeza, MiguelMiguel Pardeza1979-1985281 La Liga, 2 Copa del Rey, 1 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
Benítez, RafaelRafael Benítez1974–198101 Tercera División
Martín Vázquez, RafaelRafael Martín Vázquez1980–19832526 La Liga, 2 Copa del Rey, 4 Supercopa de España, 2 UEFA Cup, 1 Copa de la Liga, 1 Copa Iberoamericana
Grosso, RamónRamón Grosso1959–19642657 La Liga, 3 Copa del Rey, 1 UEFA Champions League
Raúl1992–19945506 La Liga, 4 Supercopa de España, 3 UEFA Champions Leagues, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 2 Intercontinental Cups, 1 DFB-Pokal, 1 DFL-Supercup, 1 Qatar Stars League
Gallego, RicardoRicardo Gallego1973–19802504 La Liga, 2 Copa del Rey, 1 Supercopa de España, 2 UEFA Cup, 1 Copa de la Liga
Soldado, RobertoRoberto Soldado2000–2006161 La Liga
Rodrigo2009–201001 Primeira Liga, 1 Taça de Portugal, 2 Taça da Liga
Cañizares, SantiagoSantiago Cañizares1985–1990414 La Liga, 2 Copa del Rey, 2 Supercopa de España, 1 UEFA Champions League, 1 UEFA Cup, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 1 UEFA Intertoto Cup
Saúl Ñíguez2006–200801 Copa del Rey, 1 Supercopa de España
del Bosque, VicenteVicente del Bosque1968–19703125 La Liga, 4 Copa del Rey

Honours

References

Notes

External links

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