Real Madrid News
552 days without a defeat: Stat show why club veteran is Real Madrid’s lucky charm
Thibaut Courtois is set to make his long-awaited return for Real Madrid in their upcoming match against Leganes.
The Belgian goalkeeper has been sidelined for a significant period due to a serious injury, which saw him miss crucial games, including El Clasico, as well as clashes against AC Milan and Osasuna.
His absence has been keenly felt, with Real Madrid suffering three of their season’s defeats during this time—against Lille, Milan, and Barcelona.
Important for Real Madrid
To highlight his importance, Real Madrid’s last loss with Courtois in goal dates back to 21 May 2023, when Valencia claimed a narrow victory thanks to Diego Lopez’s solitary strike.
Since then, Courtois has been a symbol of stability for the team, a status reinforced despite his injury setback. After 552 days and a challenging recovery from a cruciate ligament rupture, he is now ready to reclaim his place as the team’s backbone.
His return comes at a critical juncture, with Real Madrid aiming to regain momentum after a shaky start to the season.
Courtois’ impact on the pitch is undeniable. In the 12 matches he has played this season, Real Madrid have recorded nine wins and three draws, conceding only 10 goals during this stretch.
In stark contrast, his understudy, Andriy Lunin, has struggled to fill the void. His five appearances have seen him concede eight goals, with all three of Madrid’s defeats occurring under his watch.
More stats to back
Statistically, Courtois outshines Lunin in several key areas. He averages 2.29 saves per game compared to Lunin’s 2.18, boasts a 75% save rate against shots faced vs Lunin’s 60%, and achieves three saves per goal conceded compared to Lunin’s 1.5.
Additionally, Courtois contributes more in terms of interceptions and accurate passes to the final third, further underscoring his versatility and influence.
In a season where Real Madrid’s defence has shown vulnerabilities, Courtois’ return brings hope and reassurance. With his presence, Carlo Ancelotti’s side can look forward to greater solidity and confidence at the back.
In a major update, AS reports that former Real Madrid midfielder and club legend Toni Kroos has taken his first step towards starting his coaching career.
The former Germany international has told the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) that he is interested in joining the coaching course reserved for professional footballers.
Real Madrid tried to bring Kroos back
It is no secret that Real Madrid considered bringing Toni Kroos back into the club’s structure after the end of the last season.
The club president, Florentino Perez, had wanted Kroos to have a daily presence at Valdebebas rather than making occasional appearances after his retirement.
Jose Angel Sanchez and Kroos spoke after Perez expressed his desire to see the German working at Valdebebas every day. However, they did not find the right moment, time or structure to give his return a clear form.
A comeback remains one of the possibilities most desired by Madrid supporters because of Kroos’ charisma and what he represents at the Santiago Bernabeu. Neither side wanted him to return simply for the sake of it, so the door remains open for the future.
The relationship between the two parties is excellent, and both know that the opportunity to work together again will eventually come.
Taking it step by step
For now, Kroos continues to run the academy he established in Boadilla, enjoying the opportunity to help develop younger players.
After two years away from the competitive side of football, however, he is beginning to look towards the dugout as a possible next step in his career.
Kroos currently holds coaching qualifications that allow him to work up to the third tier of Spanish football.
This is possible because professionals with at least seven years of proven experience and significant involvement at the elite level can gain direct access to accelerated coaching courses.
That means Kroos could coach a team in Primera Federacion, but the German wants to take things gradually.
Kroos has already informed the RFEF that he would be interested in joining the coaching course reserved for professional footballers during the 2027/28 season.
The course taking place this season is not available to elite former players, with UEFA limiting each campaign to 20 places.
With his current qualifications, Kroos could work as an assistant coach, but he cannot yet take charge as a head coach in either the top flight or the Segunda División.
But completing that programme would allow Kroos to obtain the UEFA A licence, which would enable him to coach teams at any level.
