Real hero

Michel Salgado is renowned for his tough, never-say-die attitude and seldom puts less than 100 per cent into his performances. He remained strong in defence throughout some difficult times for Real during the four-year gap without a title and is nowdetermined to see out his career with the club, writes Andy Hampson.

Michel Salgado is a tough-tackling, attacking right-back who has now spent close to a decade with Spanish giant Real Madrid and has been fundamental to much of its success in that period.

Salgado hails from Las Nieves, Galicia, in the north-west of Spain. He came through the ranks with Celta Vigo and played largely for its ‘B’ team in his late teens. He broke into the first team in the 1994-95 season when he made 14 appeara nces. He made 18 the following year but was then loaned to Salamanca for more first-team experience in 1996-97.

It proved a successful move as he featured 36 times — scoring one goal — and won a regular place back at Celta on his return. His progress continued and in 1999 Real Madrid swooped to take him to the Bernabeu for 11 million euros.

He was outstanding in his early years at Real, providing a powerful threat in a side that threatened to sweep all before it. With Roberto Carlos, a similar attacking threat down the left, and such stars as Nicolas Anelka, Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo dotted around the pitch, Los Blancos was a formidable unit in the early half of the decade.

With Salgado in the side it won the UEFA Champions League in 2000 and 2002 and the Primera Liga in 2001 and 2003. Due to Real’s high turnover of players, Salgado was linked with moves elsewhere in 2003 but he eventually agreed to a new contract and has gone on to become one of the club’s longest-serving players.

He formed an impressive double act with David Beckham on the right but endured a few lean years before a third league title finally arrived in 2007. Another came last season.

Salgado is renowned for his tough, never-say-die attitude and seldom puts less than 100 per cent into his performances. He remained strong in defence throughout some difficult times for Real during the four-year gap without a title and is now determined to see out his career with the club.

He has been linked with Italian clubs and, more recently, English Championship side Queens Park Rangers, which is now owned by Formula One tycoons Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore.

“I’m not thinking about the Queens Park Rangers business,” he said. “I’ve practically made up my mind to retire at Real Madrid.”

On the international front, Salgado won his first cap in 1998 and helped Spain to the quarterfinals of Euro 2000. He was left out of the 2002 World Cup squad and missed Euro 2004 through injury.

He was back in the fray for the 2006 World Cup but has not featured since a Euro 2008 qualifying defeat in Northern Ireland later that year.

Prior to Euro 2008, Spain always flattered to deceive, producing wonderful attacking football but lacking substance and the ability to secure results when it really mattered. Salgado was one of the players that made it seem such an exciting force prior to Euro 2004, and the event in Portugal could have been a fine opportunity. Unfortunately for him he tore a thigh muscle just days before the tournament was due to begin and was forced to miss out.

Salgado actually has friends in high places at the Bernabeu. His wife, Malula Sanz, is the daughter of former Real president Lorenzo Sanz. They have been married since July 2000 and have two children, Malula and Miguel Angel.

During his time at Real, Salgado has owned a Porsche 911 Turbo, one of the most famous and distinctive sportscars of all time. The latest models cost upwards of GBP150,000 and boast a top speed of 190mph.

FactfileName: Michel SalgadoPosition: DefenderClub: Real MadridDOB: 22/10/1975Spain caps: 53Spain goals: 0Spain debut: v Cyprus, September 1998Moment to remember

Salgado may have strong attacking qualities but he is certainly not known for his goal-scoring abilities. His goals are rare, but one against Villarreal in April 2005 proved sweet as it completed a Real comeback from 1-0 down to a 2-1 win at the Bernabeu. Salgado turned the ball home after good work from Ronaldo after 74 minutes and then concentrated on defensive duties as Real held on despite being reduced to nine men.

Moment to forget

Not surprisingly for such a gritty player, Salgado has accumulated his fair share of cards throughout his career. None would have hurt more than the red he received in a clash against fierce rival Barcelona at the Bernabeu in April 2003. Salgado was dismissed late in the 1-1 draw for a second bookable offence.

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