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Uno de los capitanes del Real Madrid, Sergio Ramos, vivirá un encuentro muy especial este domingo en el Santiago Bernabéu ante el Villarreal, porque, de disputar minutos en esta vigésimo tercera jornada de Liga (21.00 21.2.2010), el defensa sevillano podrá sumar su partido número 200 con la camiseta del Real Madrid –y el 150 en Liga-. Desmembrando las estadísticas, el “4” blanco ha disputado un total de 149 partidos de Liga, 12 de Copa del Rey, 34 de Champions y 4 de Supercopa de España. Un total de 199, es decir, a falta de enfundarse un partido más la elástica madridista para llegar a las dos centenas. Aunque Ramos es un líder de la defensa, sus números como goleador también demuestran sus enormes dotes ofensivas -un total de 26 dianas en estos 199 enfrentamientos-, a lo que se suma una sobresaliente regularidad. Magníficas cifras - Y sólo tiene 23 años. Ramos camina con paso firme para convertirse en uno de los mejores defensas de la historia del fútbol europeo. Sergio Ramos nació el 30 de marzo de 1986 en Camas (Sevilla). Recaló en el Real Madrid a sus 19 años, en el verano de 2005. Debutó el 10 de septiembre en casa, ante el Celta. Desde aquel primer partido, Sergio Ramos ha sido un ejemplo de trabajo, entrega, compromiso y proyección. Todo ello sumado a su actitud en el campo –garra, corazón, liderazgo - y a su indudable calidad: todas las cualidades defensivas –rapidez, orden, anticipación -, versatilidad - tanto para jugar de central como de lateral derecho - y un gran olfato goleador, especialmente, a balón parado.

Sergio Ramos played his 200th game with Real Madrid tonight and was proud of being part of the Club's history.

"Two hundred games... That's easy to say. It seems like it was just yesterday when I got here. I am proud of making Real Madrid history. It isn't easy, especially at such a great club. My goal is to play more games and win titles with this team."

"It was hard for me to pick up the team's pace at the start of the campaign, but I gradually grew confident and I now feel fine and excited about the season. I am playing well now, but one can always do better."

"I feel comfortable playing as a centre back both at Real Madrid and on the Spanish national team. The coach thought it was better to have me there and I am ready to help. Being a right back may be more fun because I can help out more in attack."

"We knew we would reduce our distance with Barcelona sooner or later. They have yet to play at the Bernabeu and I hope we depend solely on ourselves when the time comes."

"There are always good and bad games in football. We must admit we didn't play a good match in Lyon. We have the chance to turn the score around and we are motivated to do so. We are convinced we'll reach the next round."

To speak of Real Madrid defenders is to speak about strength, courage and talent. Many players have taken position on the Madridista back line and many have contributed to its ever-growing legend. One of the most recent members to join the club is Sergio Ramos. His 200 matches played for Real Madrid ensure a bright future for both player and Real Madrid.

SIMILAR CAREER PATHS
Like Sergio Ramos, Real Madrid all-stars including Pirri, Sanchis and Fernando Hierro debuted at a young age and spent many years donning the white shirt. Jose Martinez “Pirri” played his first match for Real Madrid when he was just 19-years old -just like Ramos- and for 16 years defended the Madridista goal.

"I would love for my name to live on like Pirri's did," said Ramos after his third season in the Spanish capital. Pirri later blessed the Seville native by stating, "Sergio Ramos will make history at Real Madrid."

THINKING LONG-TERM
Similar to Sanchis, Ramos has reached his 150 league match at the age of 23. It took both players five years in doing so. Sanchis suited up for Real Madrid for 18 seasons and played more han 700 matches.

Fernando Hierro and Sergio Ramos signed for Real Madrid at a very young age. The former player was 21 when he joined, while Ramos was 19. Quite a coincidence for two players who have always been compared to one another. "He has a very promising future. He is in incredible shape, he is young and he has the drive," said Hierro the day Ramos was unveiled.

BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD
Ramos inherited Hierro's number '4' shirt; another symbolic move for Madridismo. "He has a winning attitude and character and he is very mature for his age," added Hierro during the presentation.

Las 'top models' Naomi Campbell y Kate Moss revivieron sus mejores años en el mundo de la moda en el Somerset House de Londres. Junto a otras 'celebrities', las dos modelos dieron lo mejor de sí en un desfile benéfico para recaudar fondos para Haití. Uno que tampoco quiso faltar: el jugador del Arsenal Cesc Fábregas.

Mientras los grandes cantantes unieron sus fuerzas hace unos meses en la canción Stranded (Haiti Mon amour), el mundo de la moda también se ha movilizado para recaudar fondos para la causa.


Concretamente han sido dos de las grandes 'tops' quienes el jueves protagonizaron un desfile benéfico bajo el lema Fashion for relief Haiti ('Moda para ayudar a Haití'), Kate Moss y Naomi Campbell pasearon sus curvas y lucieron unos mini vestidos azules de la última colección del recientemente fallecido Alexander McQueen.

Así, las modelos, así las demás 'celebrities' que desfilaron por la causa, también quisieron rendir su particular homenaje su amigo Alexander McQueen, que falleció la semana pasada. Con ellas desfiló, además, la mejor amiga y musa del diseñador Annabelle Neilson.

El glamour de las pasarelas
El desfile, organizado por la Diosa de Ébano, contó, además, con la presencia de la ex Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, la ganadora de la última edición del Factor X británico Alexandra Burke, así como con la sorprendente colaboración del futbolista Cesc Fábregas.

 El catalán dejó de lado los campos de fútbol y los entrenamientos con el Arsenal para empaparse del glamour de las pasarelas y también se ofreció para recaudar fondos para Haití.

Para el cierre del desfile, tanto las modelos como los demás voluntarios lucieron las camisetas benéficas creadas especialmente para la ocasión por la diseñadora Vivienne Westwood.

Según publica el periódico británico Daily Mail, la recaudación superó loa 1,2 millones de euros que serán íntegramente donados a Haití.



-Europa Press

The ball leaves your teammate’s boot and in less than a second it’s flying over you. The defender follows you closely. But not close enough. Two yards of grass are enough to see you flying away. By the third step you’re in the air.

That's all Sergio Ramos needed to make the difference with the technical skill only the rare few could grasp. A perfect twist of the head, and the goal is finished off inside the far post. Ramos showed once again that he’s not just one of the best defenders in the world, but also one of the best masters of the header. The precision of his boots doesn’t limit him to making passes to his forwards – he also knows what to do when he’s on the receiving end.

Defense is in his blood. Precision in his feet. Goals in his head.

Premier League fans have become acquainted with the names of Spanish stars like Andres Iniesta, Fernando Torres, Xavi and David Villa, but slipping quietly under the radar has been a young winger named Jesus Navas.

The Sevilla star has flourished into one of the best kept secrets in Spain. Graduating from the Sevilla academy, Navas displayed his qualities both on and off the pitch with his excellent work ethic and attitude and has become a real star for the club.
This impressive development has come despite the fact that he has suffered from anxiety problems throughout his life. This has been the biggest challenge of his career. For him it is easier to slip away from the best defenders in the world than spend a few weeks away from his family.

He has suffered from severe homesickness and from panic attacks when representing Sevilla away from home. That is why pre-season proved difficult with his club and why he has hardly featured for the national team.

Navas said recently: "I am calm and eager to enjoy the most I can, which means playing for the national side. The dream is there but I have to take the right steps and I'm doing it little by little."

Until a few months ago his health problems had been a taboo subject. Navas was reluctant to answer questions on the matter and the Spanish team's coaches respected his silence. However, the therapy he has been undertaking has finally been successful. On November 5 he formally announced he was ready for the challenge of playing for Spain and participating in the World Cup.

Vicente Del Bosque may use the player in Spain's upcoming games after Navas featured in back-to-back friendlies against Argentina and Austria in November. The first was held in Madrid but the second came in Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadium. In that debut performance against Argentina on November 14, Spain won 2-1 and Navas produced a promising performance.

"I am perfectly able to take this step," Navas said. "I want to try and it is a very good time to do so. It is Del Bosque who will take the final decision."

The response of the coach, who had been waiting for Navas to join him in the Spain squad, was clear: "We cannot turn our backs on a player who in recent years is playing very well."

Small, skinny, fast and potent, Navas is a great example of perseverance on the pitch. He has an intangible quality that people from Sevilla call duende - a concept that refers to the best maestros of Flamenco. An innate art that makes spectators shiver.

He also never stops running; defending, attacking and offering an arsenal of technical skills that are able to unlock the defence of Real Madrid's galacticos or Barcelona's trophy-laden champions. His evident offensive qualities aside, he is the kind of player that coaches want at their side. He provides a perfect balance of attacking art and defensive graft.

The great paradox is that now it is very difficult to secure a place in the Spain starting XI. Could the best Spanish winger be a secondary concern for his national team? It may seem unusual but it looks as though Del Bosque has reserved him a role as an impact player, rather than a regular starter.

The fact that Spain have enjoyed great success playing without true wingers - with Andres Iniesta and David Silva occupying the wide positions, despite being prone to playing in the centre - reduces his chances of getting minutes on the pitch.

Will the best kept secret of La Liga finally explode into the global consciousness at the World Cup? Only Del Bosque has the answer.

-Didac Peyret