Why aren’t they more British players in La Liga?

David Moyes departure from Real Sociedad was disappointing for many reasons but principally because it might put off other managers and players from trying their hand in foreign countries. While Moyes got a lot wrong in his relatively short time over here, no one can criticise the bravery shown to at least give it a go. I wish more players, coaches and managers would follow his lead.

Over the last 10-15 years we’ve seen several players come to Spain and try their luck. Some have flourished, winning trophies and admiration from a new set of fans while others have crashed and burned before they ever really got started. On the whole though, most have been successful and nearly everyone would have something positive to say about their experience. So why don’t more British players move to the Spanish league?

Are they willing to take a pay cut?

While the debate over which is truly the best league in the world rumbles on, the one area where the Premier League excels over it’s Spanish rival is related to the money involved – specifically when it comes to the TV deals. Of course, this isn’t an issue if you join Real Madrid or Barcelona but it would be if they decided to sign for Atletico Madrid, Valencia or Sevilla.

Could you imagine a player from Everton, say Barkley, rejecting a big-money move to Tottenham in favour of Sevilla, earning a similar salary to the one he’s currently on? Probably not. Now, I know there are holes in the argument related to Barkley and his loyalty to Everton but the point is: could you see a decent English player move to a more established foreign side but without the pay increase? Right now, I couldn’t.

Now, I’m not calling Premier League players money-grabbers or anything of the sort because, let’s face it, La Liga stars jump at the chance to move to England for similar financial gains. It’s natural. If you’re working somewhere nice but a bigger company offers you double your current salary, you’d take it without a second thought. But if a better company, one with a greater potential came knocking but offered to match your current salary, although you’d need to relocate, would you still make the jump? Short-term thinking wins out more often than not.

Learning a new language can be difficult, especially as an adult

As we all know this was one of the main downfalls of David Moyes’ time in Spain but he’s not alone in finding the switch difficult. Of course, this can be offset somewhat if you hit the ground running like David Beckham and more recently Gareth Bale did. In Beckham’s case he spent four years in Spain but never felt comfortable talking in Spanish, perhaps due to his shy nature. Gareth Bale is similar in that regard but even he was encouraged to conduct an interview in Spanish during the summer to ease tensions.

It’s not easy learning a new language, that’s true – ask anyone who’s switched countries for proof of that. There is a tendancy amongst Brits abroad to isolate themselves which doesn’t help. I remember reading about Michael Owen renting a flat in the middle of Madrid but spending most of his time inside, preferring not to venture out and enjoy the nightlife in the Spanish capital. There are other factors, more so if you’re moving with your family, as the onus is on them to integrate a lot quicker. It’s also natural if your other half struggles to master the lingo, feels alone, that it will influence how long you stay out here.

Steve McManaman is a great example of someone that fully immersed himself into his new surroundings and his success on the pitch made that key. “It helps if you have an open mind about going over and trying to learn the language and get involved in the local culture. Actually spending time there, I think that’s more important too. If you have more than one or two years at a certain club you’ll develop an affinity for it and you’ll really enjoy yourself.” He won two Champions League trophies in his time at Real Madrid, earning the Man of the Match award in the final versus Valencia.

From my experience of learning Spanish, I can certainly relate to Steve’s words. I’d previously spent 6 months living in Valencia and had a few Spanish lessons but never felt comfortable speaking in public or trying to maintain a conversation beyond the general “Cómo estás?” and nervous laughter that followed. Think of me as the reverse Manel from Faulty Towers. “What?” I didn’t really try to adapt or speak, in part, because I knew I was eventually returning to England.

After a couple of years back in England we decided, as a family, to go and live in Spain again. Amazingly I found myself being able to understand most conversations and surprised myself at how much Spanish I actually remembered from my classes, just never used. It was as if a switch had been flicked to ‘on’ in my brain because this place was going to become my home. I think some players come over here but don’t make an effort as they see their long-term future back in England and their stay here as only temporary – Moyes being one and, whisper it quietly, maybe in a couple of years Gareth Bale too.

The fear of being overlooked for the National side

I could honestly understand this theory 10+ years ago but not now. While it is certainly easier for Roy Hodgson and his gang of merry men to follow your process in England, none of them would overlook a player if they were performing well in La Liga. The games are more freely available than ever before on TV and who wouldn’t pass up the chance for a flying visit to Spain? Roy himself looks like the kind of guy who will live out his retirement on a deckchair in Benidorm, so would fully embrace a visit to these shores.

This fear of being overlooked is understandable if you move to say the Russian league or the MLS, but not to La Liga. It’s a rubbish excuse.

Some sections of the Spanish press

The media coverage in Spain is often different to that in England, although the gap is slowly closing [you decide if it’s for the better or not]. This is largely dependent on whom you play for as David Moyes got very little coverage – positive or negative – in the main, national newspapers. They can be your best friend or your worst enemy but I’ve seen instances of that being the case in England as well. Look at the alienation of Andre Villas Boas at Spurs due to his brash attitude with the media – don’t pretend their constant witch-hunting didn’t influence his decision to walk out on Tottenham when offered the chance to.

David Beckham’s private life was constantly over the front page and Spanish sports shows are more similar to Entertainment Weekly than Match of the Day. If you say something offensive on the pitch or make a gesture, you know it’ll be scrutinised the following day/week/month/year. If you ever wonder why La Liga players cover their mouths, now you know – the fear of the touchline cameras picking it up and the lip-reading experts rubbing their hands with glee.

Another to have recently felt the wrath of the media has been Wales’ Gareth Bale. If he didn’t pass to Cristiano, if he shot but missed or if he hadn’t tracked back then it was his fault. Bale’s case is different in that the campaign isn’t necessarily against him but against Florentino Perez. The media like to prod and jab at Perez, to get a reaction, and poor Gareth is seen as Florentino’s golden boy so was an easy target.

I wouldn’t consider the media a valid enough reason not to switch leagues though. Essentially the story is the same both in the UK and in Spain: be successful and you’ll be praised, or fail and be criticised until you leave.

If you’re still unconvinced, just look at what moving to a foreign league has done for the Spanish national team

Vicent del Bosque recently acknowledged in an interview he did with Sid Lowe that players moving abroad had benefited the Spanish side. They improved aspects of their game while realising that they could match their teammates and opponents, both technically and physically.

“It’s been good for us that players went abroad to play, without doubt; that’s one of the most important factors. It opened our minds, a major advance; I have no doubt about that. When you have Cesc Fabregas aged 19 and he’s Arsenal captain, that’s good for us.”

While the number of Spanish internationals in the ranks of the elite sides here is, on the whole, decreasing it doesn’t concern del Bosque too much either as long as they are getting regular football. Pedro left Barcelona to join Chelsea purely to get more playing time. There’s a concern that Spanish sides are turning more to foreign players than ever, hence why so many youngsters prefer to move to England to speed up their development with game time.

It’s the perfect time for English players to be brave and give La Liga a shot. I’d extend that to coaches as well. The more strings you can add to your bow the better you become; if not as a player but as a person. If you’re a youngster struggling to break into the first team in England, why not take the chance to move abroad in search of regular, top level football to speed up the progress? Eric Dier is a shining example of that. He came back to England with sharper technical skills which will benefit both him and his teammates in the long run. It’s time to stop fearing the unknown and embrace the opportunity to learn something new.