as interview with mery ruiz

[acchikocchi]

Writing up the notes for the Zaida story right now. (Thank you so much to everyone who's commented, I hardly even know how to respond. I just, I really appreciate it.) I did most of the initial research last winter/spring and I wanted to share some of the things I came across in the process. This is an interview from AS, via the fantastic website futfem.com, with Maria (Mery) Ruiz, the first (female) Spanish player to reach the quarterfinals of the Champions' League. The last few lines are pretty heartbreaking, especially for Madridistas.

Original Spanish here. Translation by yours truly, all corrections welcomed.

Her story bears a certainly similarity to that of Raul. Maria Ruiz, known to most as Mery, is a Madrileña by birth (06/13/1983), a Madridista by heart, and a striker by position. Last season she made the decision to leave Espanyol, just proclaimed champions of the Copa de la Reina, to play for Zvezda 2005 in the Russian league.

Mery's intention was to play, for the first time, in the women's Champions League: "Raul is a legend and has played many Champions' League matches, but I understand, apart from wanting to break records, feeling the need to keep playing anyway. I accepted the move to Zvezda 2005 because ever since I was very little I've wanted to play in the Champions. I saw the guys and felt envious. And it's a special competition. I get emotional just hearing the music. It was an experience I wanted to have myself and I'm enjoying it to the utmost."

In addition, Mery has already made history, by becoming the first Spanish woman to reach the quarterfinals of the competition, where she scored two goals. The rival to beat is Olympique Lyon (March 17th & 23rd): "They're the games of my life, though I'm aware that they'll be very complicated since [Lyon] are the current runners-up."

Mery realizes that she's an adventurer. She left Madrid at age 20 to sign for Estudiantes de Huelva. In the US she played at Indiana and for Buffalo Flash, in the second league, before returning to Spain, to Espanyol. But she acknowledges that her greatest dream is to play for Real Madrid: "I've been a Madridista since I was little and I feel a special sadness knowing that it will never be possible for me to play for my team. If Zidane had a daughter who played football, would she go to Atlético? I don't think it's too much to ask."

Comments

[labelledcaustic.livejournal.com]

But she acknowledges that her greatest dream is to play for Real Madrid: "I've been a Madridista since I was little and I feel a special sadness knowing that it will never be possible for me to play for my team. If Zidane had a daughter who played football, would she go to Atlético? I don't think it's too much to ask."

BRB. CRYING. I SAY THIS ALL. THE. TIME.

Can we please just forward this entire interview in Spanish to el Buitre? What kind of world class football team has no female academy?

I'm sorry.

But I was speaking to a bunch of SUPER TALENTED female footballers I used to play with in the Philippines, and they said, "oh, yeah, I wanted, so badly, to become a footballer, but look at the state of women's football in developed countries! Can you imagine what it's like for us, to represent a developing country? We don't even have money for emergency relief, forget men's football, forget women's football." And some of them have dual spanish nationality, and the Spanish female NT is a joke. The amount of money they spend on the men's NT to win "the one [two] that count" (in your fic's words)? They probably spend less than like a fraction of that... It's offensive toward football fans, but nobody says anything.

And it's awful, how in a world where every job application I apply for more or less states, "We are equal opportunity employers. Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply," the world of football is saying, "sorry, if you're not male (or white or European or from Brasil or Argentina), you have no shot, go put on your short shorts and look pretty for Blatter, now."

[acchikocchi.livejournal.com]

I know, I know, I know.

The paragraph in the fic about the establishment of a Real women's side is a direct result of this interview, haha. To Zaida it's understandably teeth-grinding but to me it's wish fulfillment. XD;

The state of the Spanish WNT in said fic is also ditto because I couldn't bring myself to impose that kind of ceiling on her. Though - and maybe you know all this already - they really shouldn't be the mess they are, argh. This article (http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/womensworldcup/story/wwc-spain-reason-for-lack-of-success-coach-ignacio-querada-063011) has a certain amount to say on the subject, and there's a little more in this interview (http://ontd-football.livejournal.com/3583281.html) with Vero Boquete. It's just so frustrating when you look at the success their junior teams had. (And I found something interesting the other day while I was looking for the original text of this interview - the U-17 team beat out the U-19 boys for an AS award determined by popular vote. So it's not that the interest isn't there.)

Anyway. Yes. It's just... so infuriating and frustrating. words cannot describe.

[labelledcaustic.livejournal.com]

I think it's sad that Real have been talking about "establishing a women's academy", in a country that supposedly is one of the most "progressive" in terms of female representatives in the workplace, at least, in absolute numbers in the political and public sectors, no?

And the club is always going on and on about how, "oh, when people think of Spain they think Real Madrid". It wasn't an independent article, it was for their monthly magazine for their fan club-- they actively went out to seek that sort of line from their chosen Spaniards and non-Spanish celebs angle. They could have easily found people who said, "I think of Spain as colonisers and rampant unemployment. Also... manchego." Or something.

I am not being fair and pulling this Real Madrid as a symbol of All That Is Wrong With That Continent That Colonised Everbody Else And Now Wants to Do it Some More, ...but it would make sense that since they're so bloody progressive about pulling in the dollar, yen, euro bills, etc.

Also, I love how much flack American soccer etc gets for European football fans (ugh, whatEVER), and how the Scandinavians are always made fun of, but holy crap, nobody can say a word when they see their top level women play football. And every woman in Sweden I know has played football at a youth level...And they play kickabout...with men...and kick ass... I don't know, I just grew up playing football with some amazing women from all over the world in my school, and you'd think some of them would make it. But they're too smart to even BOTHER. Which is like... what.

[buyamattress.livejournal.com]

I just found this (from _fb)!

UGH UGH UGH at the end, it made me want to tear up. RM's lack of a women's side is such a disappointment to me. Them finally waking up and establishing a team and me stanning the hell out of them is an elaborate recurring fantasy of mine. It would be so great! I would support Las Blancas with all my heart!! THINK OF ALL THE ADDITIONAL MIDFIELDERS FLO COULD BUY!!!!

On the bright side, it seems that the Spain women's NT might have some things to look forward to. I know the RFEF scheduled an actual friendly for them at some point (!!!), and they drew Germany in a Euro 2013 qualifier, which was obviously a big deal for them. They have a decent shot at qualifying for the Euro, and possibly also for the WWC in 2015 since the number of teams is being expanded...

ANYWAY, I'll stop blurting women's soccer feels all over your journal now. :P Just to summarize: REAL MADRID WOMEN'S TEAM, YES.

[acchikocchi.livejournal.com]

I would actually die if Real Madrid got their act together and started a women's side. I just. Aren't they embarrassed to be the only top Spanish team without one. I don't understand. I mean, I do, it's not marketable enough or whatever, but they have the resources to be so good, ugh. Also yes you are so right, ahahahaha, midfielders GALORE. I give it two years before it turns into Las Galacticas and we buy Louisa Necib and Lira Bajmaraj and probably Hope Solo.

omg I saw!! LIKE, AN ACTUAL CALL UP, WHOA. I really, really hope they qualify, though I want it to happen because they ~fulfill their youth potential~ and not just because there are more teams allowed. Though I would not turn that down or anything. because Veroooo. And Marta Torrejon. And Laura del Rio argh I want her to get her spot back. hello I am a fangirl.

Anyway uh as you can see I have feelings too so yours are very welcome here. Also, because literally no one on my flist will understand what I am yammering about: WHAT IS LIFE that Rayo win three league titles in a row and the season after I start paying attention to the league they slip to sixth and BARCELONA WHO HAVE NO (women's) HISTORY are top now. Just. Why. Aupa Athletic, man, that's all I can say.

[buyamattress.livejournal.com]

LAS GALACTICAS. YESSSSSS.

My hope is that they qualify for a big tournament, which gets them more attention and hopefully someone at the RFEF gets embarrassed enough that they have had THE SAME COACH FOR 30 YEARS and they finally get their shit together. And/or after being recently thwarted in their bids for the Olympics and the World Cup, they decide to go after hosting a women's Euro or a WWC and in doing so realize they need to treat their women's NT in a non-shitty manner.

Also I would just like to take a moment to say VEROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. (She posted a photo of her and Cristiano. I died.)

UGH BARCELONA WOMEN. I'M SURE YOU'RE LOVELY, BUT YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO WIN THINGS, OKAY? IT'S THE PRINCIPLE OF IT. OKAY.