Hire Jorge Valdano for Talks, Lectures, and Experience Creators
Jorge Valdano
A former soccer player, coach, and sports philosopher, renowned for his profound insight into soccer and life. He inspires others with his ability to combine reflection, leadership, and passion, demonstrating that the game is also a school for human values.
How do I hire Jorge Valdano?
Who is Jorge Valdano?
Jorge Valdano stood out as an elegant and technically gifted forward on the field, beginning his career with Newell’s Old Boys in his native Argentina. His time in Europe began with Deportivo Alavés in Spain’s Second Division, before he established himself in the top flight with Real Zaragoza. His soccer career reached its peak at Real Madrid C.F., where he became the perfect partner for the famous “Quinta del Buitre.” With the club, Valdano won three La Liga titles and two UEFA Cups. His playing career was cut short after he was diagnosed with hepatitis B, marking the start of a new chapter in his life.
The highlight of his playing career came with the Argentine national team, where he was part of the squad that won the World Cup in Mexico in 1986. In that tournament, he scored four goals, including the crucial second goal in the final against West Germany. After retiring as a player, Valdano moved into coaching. He made his coaching debut with C.D. Tenerife, which he led to European competition qualification. He later returned to Real Madrid as head coach, winning La Liga in his first season (1994–95) and spearheading the debut of a future club legend, Raúl González Blanco.
He subsequently had a long and highly influential career in sports management at Real Madrid, serving as the club’s Director of Sports and Director of the President’s Office from 2000 to 2011. During this period, he was a key figure in the “Galácticos” era and a pioneer in linking sports philosophy with the business world and management. This dual experience on the field and in the boardroom gave him a unique perspective on high-performance sports culture and leadership.
After leaving the corporate world, he has established himself as an acclaimed writer, speaker, and commentator, and is widely known as “the philosopher of soccer.” He is the author of several bestsellers that explore sociology and leadership in sports, including The 11 Powers of a Leader, Soccer Stories, and Soccer: The Infinite Game. His philosophy revolves around the idea that “a team is a state of mind” and that soccer is “the most important of the least important things.”
