Iván Díaz Infantes (Mora, Toledo, 1979) landed in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) last August by the hand of Cosmin Contra, a land in the desert, so far from the green and the mountains where he grew up, since he was five years old, in Arenas de San Pedro, Ávila. His is also a red-and-white quarry, although in the physical section. Breathe Atleti (where it arrived in 2006, Alevín team in Cotorruelos), method Teacher (in his team of assistants since 2014). 14 years with a hiatus of two at Ludogorest and one last step at the Femenino before that call. Contra’s. To be the physical trainer of Al-Ittihad.
That field, two years ago, which was Atleti’s in its preparation for the Spanish Super Cup, the first in Arabia, Jeddah. The residue of that competition is still in the city. “Many Atleti fans, his name. In that Super Cup everyone wanted a Madrid-Barça in the final, which was what they knew“. But the Cholo team beat the Catalans, in their semifinal, and that final they dreamed of never happened. It was Madrid-Atleti.” It taught the Arabs that there was a third option, a third team. ” The Atleti. His Atleti.
“Let my team run like Atleti”
“I want my team to run as much as Atleti,” the Ludogorest president told him when he signed him in 2019. Now the Al-Ittihad footballers do it, although with customs that condition. “You live more at night than during the day, we usually train in the afternoon and the rest day is always the day after the match, regenerative.” Women, by the way, continue to go to the fields but as since 2018 (when it was allowed your access) to that Super Cup: in areas enabled for them, closed and always accompanied by men. Only in the VIP area, enabled for women and couples of footballers to mingle and can be alone. Ivan knows it well. In the last month his wife, Matilde, his daughter, Adriana, and his son, Hugo, live the parties of Al-Ittihad, leader, from their stands, without restrictions nor locks, with freedom, like the ones women had in that 2020 Super Cup.
“My family and work are my life here”, says Iván, in 2022, until his wife and children return to Madrid, mid-January. Then his days will be just work, like until now since August. In the mornings, preparing methodology for the Academy of which he is co-founder, Construye Fútbol, and training content. In the afternoon, the sessions, two hours before in the sports city, two hours before and two afterwards. The recreational are the only options that the city offers you, at the foot of the Red Sea, shopping centers (They even have amusement parks under their roofs), restaurants and walks along the Corniche, the place where Atleti stayed precisely two years ago. “His semi-final against Athletic was going to be in Jeddah.” A reunion for Iván. With the staff, with the footballers. And many requests. “Many Al-Ittihad footballers told me: Can we go with you? Visit? And ask them for a shirt“. For that residue of the first Super Cup in the country. Atletico.” Although now the results sow doubts, Atleti to a game is lethal. “He knows it well. He already touched, helped to lift one. When he got to the first team. In 2014. Against Madrid.