It may seem like Xabi is getting all the attention lately, but there are people who haven’t forgotten about Sergio Ramos. He’s on the cover of magazine Soccer Is Life, and there is of course more pictures and an interview inside.
The most interesting part is how he’s been styled. If you were ever wondering what he’d look like with short hair (i.e. nothing in the back), these pictures will tell you. I love his hair in the above picture, but not so much in some of the other ones where it’s a bit messier. Those remind me of his earlier years at Sevilla. I’m also not a big fan of the suits they put him in. Where are Xabi and/or Álvaro’s wife Carlota when we need them?
Q: Sergio, you made Spanish football history in becoming the youngest player to reach 70 with the national team. What does that mean to you?
A: For me it’s something incredible; I never imagined I would get to that number and I hope to continue working to win more trophies. It’s a tremendous source of pride to see everything that I’ve achieved until now while representing my country.
Q: You’re part of the best generation of footballers in the history of our country. We’re talking about European and world champions.
A: Buff, I hear it and I get goosebumps. With the passing of time, we become conscious of what we achieved. It’s incredible what this group has done.
Q: Which moment is the one you’ll remember out of all those with the national team?
A: I have a lot of memories but I’ll never forget the moment when I raised up the World Cup. It left me in a state of shock.
Q: Let’s go back a few years. You played football in the plaza of Camas. Back then did you ever think that you would one day lift up the World Cup?
A: When you’re a kid, you think about enjoying yourself and you’re constantly dreaming but it never occurs to you that you might one day lift up the greatest title a country can achieve. It’s something that you would never even think about at that age. You only want to have fun, but now this has much more dimension in hindsight.
Q: Do you think this is the best Spanish national team in history? The best team in the history of football?
A: Spain has always had very good generations of footballers, but what happened is that they didn’t have luck until recently. I don’t know if it’s the best team in history, but it is one of the national teams that has defined a style of playing football.
Q: I remember Luis Aragonés criticizing the team during the first stage of the World Cup. Knowing him, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was part of a motivating strategy. Is he a father for this generation? Define Luis for me.
A: For me, Luis is unique in his way of being; he manages to bring out the best of each player. I only have words of gratitude for him because he was the one who gave me the opportunity to live unique moments with the national team, which I’m continuing to live now with Vicente del Bosque. I have been able to correct a lot of my errors thanks to the values that Luis transmitted to me.
Q: And what has Del Bosque brought to this group?
A: Vicente inherited a good base from the previous years, but he has managed to put his own stamp on it. There’s not much else to say when with Vicente we managed to become the best national team in the world.
(They made him look like a former boy band member who’s down on his luck here).
Q: What is left for you to achieve?
A: On the team level, I want to continue winning as many titles as possible with the national team and with Real Madrid. I would especially like to win the Champions League with Real Madrid.
Q: What does a man like you desire?
A: My desire as a footballer is the continue improving and learning day to day, and to continue achieving the objectives that I’ve set throughout my life.
[And your desires as a man are what?? People need want to know!]
Q: Do you see yourself playing throughout your 30s, or do you think you’ll leave football before then?
A: As long as my body and injuries respect me, my desire is to continue playing.
Q: Let’s talk about this new Madrid. What has Mourinho brought to this team?
A: The míster has helped us regain confidence in ourselves. He’s doing a great job, which is reflected out on the field.
Q: There must be something about Mou since in Barcelona, the players, the coaches and even the directors talk almost every day about him. What do you think it is?
A: The míster has a big personality, he’s left his mark and his style of play in all the clubs where he’s worked, and it’s normal that they talk about him for the good job he’s done throughout his professional career.
Q: Does he inspire respect?
A: Of course, as I said before, he’s a great professional that always leaves his mark wherever he goes.
Q: Have you won part of the battle already because of the nervousness that Mou is creating in Barcelona?
A: No. We have to play the games and a rival like Barcelona is always difficult to beat.
Q: What is Madrid going to win this year?
A: Our obligation as Real Madrid players is to fight to win the three titles. That’s the base that we have to start off from every time we put on this shirt.
Q: Is there anything that stops your dreams?
A: No, luckily I’m a privileged person. Only when there is a big problem that can affect me like any other person.
Q: What bothers you about football?
A: That people can judge and talk about a person without really knowing them.
Q: How would you define yourself?
A: I’m a very normal, humble, simple and family-oriented person.
Q: You always have Puerta on your mind. He’s always there whenever you achieve anything, right?
A: Of course. All the titles that I’ve achieved throughout my sporting career are dedicated to him. I’ll never forget him.
Q: It’s been said that you played a big part in helping Navas to integrate into the national team. It’s difficult to find an image of Navas on the national team where you’re not right next to him.
A: Jesús is another of my good friends from the youth teams of Sevilla. He took a big step forward in his career and I just helped him out in any way that I could. He knows that he will always have my unconditional support.
Q: What will Sergio Ramos do when he leaves football?
A: I’m still very young and I hope to have many more years as a footballer in front of me, so right now I don’t even think about my retirement. When the moment gets near, then I’ll start planning.
Thanks to all those who sent these pictures in. I’m not sure where you all got them from, but if they’re yours, let me know and I’ll cite you. If they’re not yours, then continue on with wondering whether Sergio is wearing anything under that blazer.
By the way, I can totally see Xabi in the same outfit and doing the same pose as Sergio below, but perhaps without that slightly creepy half smile.
