Spain does late very well. The phrase "manana" reflects the overriding popular mentality. Why do something today when it can be done tomorrow? Another oft-used saying mocks the man who is always on time, who must have nothing else to do. At midnight, when the English return from their evening of socialising, the Spaniards are setting out.
So it is of little surprise that, mid-September, most Primera Liga clubs have played just one league fixture. English, French and German clubs have played five. The majority of Spanish teams returned to pre-season training two months ago, so the late league start, and the international break which followed, have frustrated. "We don't decide these things," said the Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola tersely. He is relived the league's pace is set to quicken with all Primera Liga clubs contesting four league fixtures before September is out.
Last season's top four played last night, with Barca at Getafe, Real Madrid at Espanyol, Sevilla entertaining Zaragoza and Atletico hosting Racing Santander. Fresh television contracts have spread the games around the weekend and just two games will kick-off today at the default scheduled time of 5pm (7pm UAE time). Tenerife's first home game back in the top flight will commence at 4pm. With temperatures still in the high 20s on the islands close to the coast of West Africa, it is not popular with the players.
The islanders say only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the afternoon sun and it is worse for the visiting Deportivo players, more accustomed to the cooler climes of Galicia. "It's going to be horrible," said veteran striker Walter Pandiani. "We've been training at 6pm to see what it's like. We've suffered and you have to take in as much water as possible." Tenerife, who boast a substantial British expatriate support known as the Armada Sur, won promotion last season under Jose Luis Oltra, 40, who took charge in 2007.
Formed in 1922 in the island's capital Santa Cruz, Club Deportivo Tenerife have spent much of their existence in Spain's second tier. After winning promotion in 1989 they were soon established in the top flight and made the headlines when Real Madrid twice lost the league title at Tenerife on the final day of the season - effectively handing the trophy to Barcelona both times. In 1992, Real let a 2-0 half-time lead slip and were beaten 3-2. Spain's best-selling sports paper Marca accused the Galician referee of being "bent" on their front page. The next season, incredibly, Real again lost the league at Tenerife again on the final day, losing 2-0, their players wilting in the heat and open hostility from the islanders towards the aristocrats from the capital.
Tenerife were managed by the Argentinian Jorge Valdano, who told his players to take up the challenge of defeating a team that had "all the prestige of history on its side". They did, but then the result was not a huge surprise as Valdano had crafted a side containing the brilliance of a young Argentine Fernando Redondo, a team good enough to finish fifth and qualify for the Uefa Cup where they were knocked out by Juventus.
Despite causing them double heartache, Real signed Valdano and he promptly won the league at the first attempt in 1995. Tenerife's heroic exploits were not finished. The renowned German Jupp Heynckes took over, achieved another fifth-placed finish and led Tenerife to the semi- finals of the Uefa Cup after beating Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Lazio, Feyenoord and Brondby. Against Lazio, Tenerife overturned a 1-0 away deficit and came from a goal down in the home leg to win 5-3. That night in the Heliodoro remains a highlight to the supporters.
Like Valdano, Heynckes ended up at the Bernabeu, where he won Real's first European Cup in 32 years in 1998. Saddled with under-performing players on big contracts, Tenerife went on a downward spiral which eventually led to relegation in 1999. Struggling to pay the lavish salaries they had offered when they were in the first division, they slipped into a debt still carried today. But it has not been all bad.
Rafael Benitez was appointed and he led them to promotion in 2001 with a side featuring future Spanish internationals like Luis Garcia, Curro Torres and Mista. True to the pattern established by his predecessors, Benitez left for Valencia - along with the aforementioned trio. Tenerife were relegated in 2002 and only returned this season. Survival will be an achievement, but with 17,000 season ticket holders they are big enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with the biggest teams.
The only problem is that any repeat of their 90s heroics will lead to the inevitable exodus of their finest talents. amitten@thenational.ae
