Published On 26/11/2025
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Last update: 20:14 (Mecca time)
From the promise that his name would be engraved next to Real Madrid legends such as Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo, to the struggle to secure a living with a salary not exceeding 300 euros per month, it is an amazing journey of rise, a resounding fall, and a new renaissance led by the Spanish hero Miguel Palencia, one of the most prominent talents of former (La Fabrica).
Palencia (41 years old today) moved in the blink of an eye from training with Real Madrid’s Galacticos to working as a fitness coach in a modest women’s basketball club, before rebuilding himself from scratch and finding a new identity away from the green rectangle.
A gem among Galacticos legends
The story of Miguel Palencia was being written quietly within the Real Madrid academy, of a fast and talented full-back whose name emerged among the most prominent jewels of “La Fabrica” at the turn of the millennium. He had the opportunity to appear with the first team among a huge constellation of stars:
- Ronaldo
- David Beckham
- Luis Figo
- Roberto Carlos
- Raoul
- Iker Casillas
These names left an impact on the world of football, but Valencia was prevented from becoming one of them.
He sat next to Casillas on the bus, received notes from Raul, and shared dressing rooms with legends among whom it would be unbelievable that a 20-year-old could live among them on a daily basis. Some media outlets even placed him among the names nominated to be part of the Sergio Ramos transfer deal from Seville to Real Madrid. The future seemed bright before him.
A sentence that ended a 13-year-old dream
When Michel Gonzalez took over as coach of Real Madrid Castilla, Valencia thought he would get his natural chance to succeed Michel Salgado in the first team.
But the exact opposite happened, as he lost his position to Miguel Torres, and his ranking gradually fell.
The only explanation he received was one phrase that he never forgot throughout his life: “Forget Real Madrid. You can aspire to Betis, Sevilla, or the national team, but there is no longer a place for you here.”
He was 21 years old at the time, and had spent 13 full years at the academy.
That sentence ended it all. “That phrase devastated me,” Palencia says. “I felt like the door I had been knocking on all my life had suddenly closed.”
He left at the end of the season for only 2,000 euros, compensation unbecoming of a player who lived such a dream.
From European professionalism to the third degree
Search for a new opportunity outside Spain. He moved to Belgium, then returned to be relegated to the third division. But the shock was more psychological than artistic. A game he loved since his childhood turned into a hostile environment full of screaming, pressure, and loss of confidence.
“I was disgusted with football. I couldn’t stand it anymore,” Palencia says, deciding to retire at the age of twenty-seven.
300 euros per month
Just 18 months after his debut for Real Madrid, he found himself working as a fitness coach for a women’s basketball team in Coslada for just €300 a month.
He descended from the pages of Madrid newspapers to the difficulty of paying bills. From training with Zidane to standing in front of a mirror wondering: “Who am I now?”
Palencia admits: “I went through a year and a half of complete collapse. I was alone, and I entered a very difficult psychological tunnel.”
Building a new identity outside of football
Palencia regained his balance by teaching physical education, where he found his true passion. “I finally found myself… away from football, but with the same passion,” he says confidently.
“Helping athletes develop. Gradually, the 300 euros turned into a private project, then into a high-performance training center,” he adds.
He began working with professionals in various fields and has more than 10 years of experience as an analyst on the Real Madrid channel after rebuilding his name with his own hands, away from the noise of the stadiums.