When extreme success breeds complacency, even giants need updating. We dive deep into Real Madrid’s organizational structure and why it’s due for an overhaul. From medical modernization to youth development, from recruitment processes to power dynamics - everything’s on the table.
We explore why Real Madrid needs system-wide updates:
LA FABRICA AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT:
La Fabrica needs to successfully produce role players for the first team at a much better rate, which would give the first team better injury insuranceWhy did Raul Asencio not have any prominence at the club until his assist for the first team? Did nobody notice that he was good?Building a true development pipeline requires investing in world-class youth coachesThe current pay grade for youth team leads surely isn’t attracting top talentsCreating a consistent playing philosophy from academy to first team would help, but is not requiredModern football demands a complete medical overhaulWhy paying top dollar for medical leadership is as crucial as signing stars: players and coaches won’t take a medical guy seriously because their own jobs are on the line. Increasing pay gives the medical leadership more legitimacy and authority.The outdated approach to player health and recoveryThe unsustainability of having Valverde, Jude and others cover defensive duties for everyoneWhy burning out your most versatile players isn’t a long-term solutionCreating balanced tactical systems that don’t overstress certain playersThe need for collective defensive responsibilityFlorentino’s increasing perfectionism with ageHow the pursuit of perfection can paradoxically block innovation by making you stick to your old systemsThe challenge of introducing new paradigms to established leadershipWhy self-preservation politics grows stronger in aging organizations, and is particularly prevalent at sports teams where everyone is worried about getting firedINSTITUTIONAL INNOVATION:
Why sports teams lag behind Fortune 500s in innovationThe mismatch between available resources and institutional innovation is large in sportsOwners of sports teams typically permit worser standards of execution across the board at the sports team than they do at their own successful companiesInnovation happens out of necessity, and usually comes with copying others: rare for a team to adopt an approach purely out of a desire to be ahead unless they copy it from the next teamSuccessful innovation models: Kansas City Chiefs, Golden State WarriorsManaging superstar egos while implementing systematic changesThe need for a biology-centric leader to innovate going forward
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices