Opening of the 2025/26 academic year of the Real Madrid Graduate School – European University

Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso and the Director of Institutional Relations and General Manager of the Real Madrid Graduate School – European University, Emilio Butragueño, were responsible for inaugurating the academic year 2025/26 in the auditorium of Ciudad Real Madrid. The event also marked the beginning of the twentieth cohort, attended by Elena Gazapo, Rector of the European University; Marisa Sáenz, Managing Director of the Real Madrid Graduate School – European University; Miguel Pardeza and Manolo Sanchís, Directors of Postgraduate Programs at the Real Madrid Graduate School – European University; Felipe Reyes and Santiago Solari.

Following the screening of a video showcasing Xabi Alonso's career as a footballer and coach, the Real Madrid coach welcomed the students: “Thank you very much for being here and for the trust you have placed in the club at a crucial moment in your careers.”

The Importance of Real Madrid’s Values
“Having already experienced them as a player, I carry them naturally. You must respect the history of madridismo and how this great club has been built. The pursuit of excellence, generosity, and effort are undeniable in the club and across all levels—not just on the pitch. The pitch is what shines the most, but there are many other levels that you will learn about to make it all work. Everything must be connected, and this intangible heritage of the club is very valuable. At Real Madrid, things cannot be done just in any way, and that has to be understood.”

How to Reach the Elite
“I was fortunate to recognize my passion—playing football—from a young age. That makes it easier to choose your path. Once you take that path, you have to be willing to pay a price. You have to be willing to give 100% to first have the opportunity. Then, if you want to keep climbing, you need persistence and a work ethic that, in my case, I already had since childhood, coming from a football family. Also, as a player, you have to put things into perspective to distinguish what’s truly important.”

Decision to Become a Coach
“I was motivated by curiosity about the game. Now I’m a coach, but the beautiful thing is playing. I envy the players, but it’s a healthy envy. I was always curious about why things happen, perhaps because of the position I played. That made me want to stay close to this. In my final years, I thought, ‘I need to shape this.’ I had to prepare well to enjoy this new responsibility. I didn’t want to take steps too quickly, so I started here with the youth teams. I wanted to progress gradually until I reached here. You have to step out and test yourself to learn.”

His Experience in Other Countries
“When I was of university age, at 22, I went to do my ‘university’ in Liverpool. At first, I listened a lot, spoke little, and paid close attention to things. That helped me land on my feet. Then, you must not be afraid; you need courage, your own personality to earn respect in a constructive way, and the persistence to take the right steps to reach where you want to go. Seeing the world, meeting people from everywhere, and experiencing different cultures helped me immensely. Probably, if I hadn’t had that experience as a player, I wouldn’t be here now.”

Butragueño: “We will experience this adventure together and will do everything possible to meet expectations”
Emilio Butragueño welcomed the students of the Real Madrid Graduate School: “Welcome to Ciudad Real Madrid, our home, your home. This is where, with the talent and effort of everyone who makes up Real Madrid, we strive to face continuous challenges in the hope of further expanding the legend of our club. Here, both the players and all of us live by the values that have been passed down from generation to generation and are the pillars that have supported us throughout our 123 years of history. Thanks to these values and the unwavering loyalty of our hundreds of millions of supporters, today Real Madrid is the most loved and admired club in the world.”

“Dear students of the twentieth cohort, you have decided to become part of this great story. We thank you for your trust during such an important year of your lives. We take it as a great honor and also with enormous responsibility. We will experience this adventure together and will do everything possible to meet your expectations.”

Elena Gazapo: “This year, the multiculturalism of our school is even more evident”
“The shared values of two leading institutions, Real Madrid and the European University, have led us to consolidate this great university project, which in the past 18 years has educated more than 19,000 students from around the world and encompasses all areas of knowledge in sports. This year, the multiculturalism of our school is even more evident. More than 80% of our students are international, from over 100 countries. I want to express our gratitude and extend a warm welcome to Xabi Alonso, who is joining us for the first time at this opening ceremony. It is a privilege to have you here, and we wish you every success. I also want to thank Emilio Butragueño for the care and dedication he always demonstrates towards the school.”

After the conversation between Xabi Alonso and Butragueño in the presence of the school’s new students, the students also had the opportunity to ask questions to the Real Madrid coach. The opening ceremony concluded with the customary family photo.

Disclaimer: Translation generated by artificial intelligence. It may contain inaccuracies.