Real’s ex-fitness coach José Luis San Martín recalls the impressive athletic prowess of the Galactics in the 2000s.
In the early 2000s, a Real Madrid training session could have made you think you were in the middle of a sports brand commercial that featured all the world’s top stars:
Raúl, Luís Figo, Zinédine Zidane, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and David Beckham played together in the Spanish capital at that time. José Luis San Martín was responsible for the fitness of the “Galactic” at that time.
The fitness trainer now remembers in the Marca what impressive athletic skills his protégés had. The footballers could also have shone in athletics.
Raúl: The marathon runner
The later Schalke star Raúl, for example, would have been a “great marathon runner”, explained San Martín. No sooner said than done. Shortly after his career ended in 2015, the striker ran a marathon in less than three and a half hours. “With the right training, he could have done it in about two hours and fifteen minutes. He had a very high level of endurance, he could sacrifice and suffer,” recalled Real’s former fitness coach.
In a Champions League match, Raúl managed to run an incredible 14 kilometres.
But he was not the only player who could have possibly made it to fame and glory in athletics.
Roberto Carlos: The top sprinter
During a training session, a conversation once took place between San Martín and defender Roberto Carlos.
“You could do 100 metres in less than 11 seconds,” the coach told his protégé. Roberto Carlos wanted to prove it to him. “I told him it wasn’t a good time because he was training. But there was no turning back, and he insisted that I keep my stopwatch ready,” he recalled.
San Martín was right, the Brazilian ran the 100 metres in 10.8 seconds: “His acceleration was exceptional. So the former Brazilian international could have been a good sprinter as well as a footballer.Real’s ex-fitness coach José Luis San Martín recalls the impressive athletic prowess of the Galactics in the 2000s.
In the early 2000s, a Real Madrid training session could have made you think you were in the middle of a sports brand commercial that featured all the world’s top stars:
Raúl, Luís Figo, Zinédine Zidane, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and David Beckham played together in the Spanish capital at that time. José Luis San Martín was responsible for the fitness of the “Galactic” at that time.
The fitness trainer now remembers in the Marca what impressive athletic skills his protégés had. The footballers could also have shone in athletics.
Raúl: The marathon runner
The later Schalke star Raúl, for example, would have been a “great marathon runner”, explained San Martín. No sooner said than done. Shortly after his career ended in 2015, the striker ran a marathon in less than three and a half hours. “With the right training, he could have done it in about two hours and fifteen minutes. He had a very high level of endurance, he could sacrifice and suffer,” recalled Real’s former fitness coach.
In a Champions League match, Raúl managed to run an incredible 14 kilometres.
But he was not the only player who could have possibly made it to fame and glory in athletics.
Roberto Carlos: The top sprinter
During a training session, a conversation once took place between San Martín and defender Roberto Carlos.
“You could do 100 metres in less than 11 seconds,” the coach told his protégé. Roberto Carlos wanted to prove it to him. “I told him it wasn’t a good time because he was training. But there was no turning back, and he insisted that I keep my stopwatch ready,” he recalled.
San Martín was right, the Brazilian ran the 100 metres in 10.8 seconds: “His acceleration was exceptional. So the former Brazilian international could have been a good sprinter as well as a footballer.
