Speaker 1: My guest on the podcast today is the head coach of the Spanish National Man's Team David Martin Lozano. Become a podcast buddy now and get exclusive access to the new podcast episodes. You can find more information about this on my website schulzecobb.de. Welcome to this podcast. you

Speaker 1: WaterPolo Expert Talk. Get the insights.

Speaker 1: So yeah, David, welcome to the next international podcast episode here in the Water Polo Expert Talk Podcast. We're really happy to have you here today. Good morning. Maybe at the beginning, as usual, also with the other participants here in the podcast, maybe a short introduction from yourself. So I hand it over to you. So welcome. Good morning. Good morning, it's a pleasure for me. Thank you for the invitation. So it's my pleasure, to be honest. So maybe for the few of the listeners maybe who's not really so much following the water polo scene, maybe can you give us some information about yourself, your role and also your water polo career maybe? No, I am a normal gay. We started water polo with kids, with all my family, but nothing special. It's all my life here in Barceloneta. Do you know, here in Barcelona we started playing like a kid with a lot of dreams. We grew up with the club because Barceloneta has always grown up in the last years. We started with a family club, a small pool. But we changed it all in 1995. The club changed the pool. I am lucky because we to play with a lot of stars, world stars, like Stiarte, Chava Gomez, lot of foreigners, Dejan Savic, Petar Trojovic. I am very lucky. I stayed in the perfect place in the moment.

Speaker 2: in the best moment. It sounds like you have a good career as an active player and also after that the dream comes true maybe that you stay with your club and also have the active career now and stay in Barcelona. I've at Ezeades all my life. We started because my brother, you know, Sus Martin, my sister, Belen Martin, he was a player for the female national team in one club very famous here in Mariterran in that era. We started playing, but what happened? Barceloneta is a familiar club, but there is a moment that he changed the pool. He met with another club, Atleti. and he built the Athletic Barcelona. And luckily because we started playing with a lot of stars, we started with Chava Gomez, Gustavo Marcos, Chiquit San, all the national players in the 90s. And after we finished my career in 2013, after the final four in Belgrade, Quickly I started my career with the coach. But I'm I'm not spectacular player, I'm a normal player, but I'm very lucky because I always play with a lot of very good players. For me, it's very good for my career.

Speaker 1: Yeah, and also it sounds like that you have also the benefits from playing with these guys in the past that you have now really the experience, even when you say you are not really the spectacular player maybe, but it ended really in the national or a head coach of Spain. it should be really a benefit then, yeah, so that you play with all these stars in the past. So maybe when you say in the Spain area, Mediterranean area, so maybe you could give us some, let's say, information about the level or the status of water polo in Spain and also Italy, Croatia, whatever. So it's really interesting to see the difference about the importance of water polo instead of Germany. So we really have the... problem at least for the water policy that we have not the environment and also not the structure or the infrastructure and the support of the governments of the schools. What is different between Spain and maybe also Germany or other European countries? What do you think? I don't know. I think that the people think that in Spain, the water polo is very, very professional. We have a lot of clubs, it's true. But the reality in Spain is that the water polo is strong only in the Barcelona area. Do you know you have here the best teams, Barcelona, after Barcelona, Sabadell, Tarraza. But we have the problem that the other countries in Spain... But the polo is not professional. Ten years ago, for example, in Madrid, there was a Canoe with a lot of players like Gabi Hernández, Sánchez Toril, the Brothers Moro. In Madrid, it was very, very strong. But in the last years, we have the problem that only in Barcelona. This is one problem and it is a very good thing because all the kids here in Catalonia, for example, they have a lot of competition. The competition here in the...

Speaker 2: the youngest categories is very, very strong. And after the K for Spain, difference between Germany and the other countries, even the Balkan countries or Italy, Hungary, that we have a center performance for high level for the jam players. We always take eight, 10 players every year and he start one development. for the Votepolo in San Cugat, this is the famous car of San Cugat. And we have been with them for 14 to 18 years. During four years, it's very strong practice, every day, every day. And I think it is the key for Spain. For example, the last season, all the players that arrive to the senior team, the national team, male and female, they are training in the centre. For example, the last Una Yagirre, Bernat Sanaúlla, Álvaro Granados, Ruyet Aoui, all these players are training here. This is the case for Spain. If we don't have this center, I think that the situation in Spain will be very, very different. Yeah, so we have, so maybe just give you some examples, what is the infrastructure here in Germany? So because we have not really center or only one, so because we have maybe in this area of the biggest clubs at the moment, so which is Hannover, which is Spandau maybe, and Duisburg, so we have centers around the biggest clubs at the moment. We have maybe some similar situation or infrastructure then, but I would agree that you have, it could be good or it could be also not good when you have only one center of such huge country. So maybe then when you have other centers, then you have maybe the problem to say, okay, you have to come to this center or you have to come to this center or you have to move or whatever. So it could be a...

Speaker 1: a pro argument or even a contra argument then in this case. when you say there is a center, is it, let's say, what role plays the environment for you or for the kids? So is it easier to bring the kids to the sports like water polo? Because in other countries, I have the impression or the feedback that it's not really easy. it's very hard to convince kids, okay, you have to play or maybe you play handball or basketball or football, soccer. What do you think about water polo? Yeah. And then you have really not the best arguments maybe on your side. Yes, yes, of course. It is normal that the family always thinks that what is the future for a water polo player? Does it take a lot of money? Do you know if you want play water polo in this moment for a top level, do you need a lot of hours to train and practice every day? But I think that this center, for example, in Barcelona, is good because you have a full accommodation for the players. We can go to school, to the practices, he can eat in the center, and the community for the families is very, good. After that, I think that it's very important, this center, because the history of the players that go to this center say that we have a lot of percentage to arrive to the senior team. Well, the family here, for example, they have a lot of good things for this center in Barcelona. But I understand that there isn't family when you say you can bring your kids here. There's a lot of family that say no, because the level of the school is not the same. It's not high level for my kid. It's normal, because the Battle Poll is a minority report.

Speaker 1: You And here we have a very big problem in Spain because as you know Spain is a country with a lot of sports, team sports in the last Olympic Games. I think that we are the first team in Europe with basketball, handball, water polo, male and female. And we are very, very alternative for the kids, not water polo. And do you know here the fitness sport is always the soccer with Real Madrid and Barcelona. I think that here in the Barcelona area, we have good image for the centre, for the families and all the families with the players. Normally we don't have problem to bring the kids. But

Speaker 1: Okay. Yeah. So in this case, it's every time when you travel or have vacation or holidays, maybe in Spain and also some big tournament or Olympic games is running. Yeah. So you see live games of water polo where you think when you're coming from Germany, okay, this would be nice also in Germany to have such a nice stream and live performances of water polo also. even when you know, okay, maybe the German national team is maybe not playing or not playing within the first ranks or first places there. it's anyway, so water polo in my impression during the last couple of years is not really happening in the media landscape here in Germany. So because of these success, what is not there. you only have the chance to come to the TV shows or streams or whatever where you have success. Yeah, yeah, of course. Here in Spain, in the tradition here in Spain, after the Olympic medals in Atlanta, Barcelona, the 90th generation with Rojan Estiarte, this is a famous sport. For example, when we go to Olympic games, all the people say, with water polo medal, sure, but it's not easy. And now in the last season, do you know the female water polo is crazy? in all the semi-finals, finals, are winning a lot of tournaments. And for example, you can see in all the clubs here in Spain, there are lot of women now. For example, Barcelona started with a women team and now they have 10 teams. It's amazing because here in Spain we have, luckily, that Vater Polo

Speaker 1: Okay.

Speaker 2: is in the TV. For example, Barcelona Neta, we play the Champions League, the Spanish Cup, the play-off. Normally we are in TV and I think that is very, important. But the square is you have, sexually, in the last years, what the Polish and the Spanish, the male and the are playing final in world championships, European championships, two teams in the semi-finals of the Olympic Games. Of course, it is a... a help for the allspot. Yeah, so it's every time when I talk to an international podcast guest that we have the same discussion. it so is it mandatory to be successful to come to the TV? And on the other hand, you do not get any kids to start playing water polo when you're not really happening in the TV. So it's not really Yeah, so it's every time the question where to start. Yeah. And who has really the lead in this discussion? Yeah. So do we have the problem to get kids to play start playing water polo because we are not happening in the TV and the guys in the TV or also in the organizations maybe saying, okay, I support you, at least in this moment where you have the success but Before that, I will not really support you in this really big range to get to this point to get success. So it's really not an easy discussion to say, okay, where's the problem here at the moment?

Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, of course. Do you need TV to show your sport? But do you need the success for the TV show viewers? Problem. This. But yeah. Yeah.

Speaker 1: At the moment, have also the situation that we are able to get more awareness of water polo, not really coming from the official TV channels and stations and so on, because it's also very easy now to stream yourself games, for example. So there is maybe the advantage of the technical side then that the clubs see, okay, it's much more easier for us to stream or to record in such a game maybe to get a little bit more of awareness then. Yes, of course. Ten years ago it was impossible to the games or the Italian league, Serbian league. Now you can see everything. But it's true that we need Water Polo, a global one in the world. We need more response in the media. We need more TV. But do you know, in this moment, the TV is changing. The young people don't look at the TV. Only streaming, only... Maybe we can use this to make the better polo, more streaming, but more professional. Now it's true that you can see, for example, the Champions League, now the games of the World League in FINA, you can see by YouTube or the page of The Lens. But we need more publicity, more that the young people know this, because... For example, I have players, young players that they don't know. They can see all the games, they can see the games of Nobby Begrad to see Mandi. No, this is a problem because the young players today, I don't know, they have the mentality like us 10 years ago. They have a lot of input in his mind.

Speaker 1: Yeah, so that's not really a matter of age in this case. Yeah. So every time when you think, okay, regarding social media and so on, it's only the very young kids and people. Yeah. But it's also when you're saying, okay, you have also some some players in your team that they are at least a little bit older. Yeah. So they are not any more kids. that you have or see at least some kind of the same problem in this case in this age. Look, for example, when we started the preparation with these kids to go with the center of high performance, the coach of them is Willem Pirekos, he's assistant coach in the national team. On the first day, when we arrived all the kids, the first question was, who is Mandic? Let me say three players of Montenegro national team. You

Speaker 2: saying me three players, a lot of kids don't know this. This is the mentality to the young players. He wants to play for the follow because they enjoy it, but I don't know if he has the mentality to grow up with the dream to arise to the senior team. In actuality, think that the young players, the young people, the important thing is today. Today, today, today, I want this now. I don't need that. I need 10 years training a lot, a lot, but finally I rise to the national team. This is crazy for them. Yes, success or the result, I want the result today without any effort maybe before. So, when you're talking about the center in Barcelona Neta, so is it in terms of, in regards to your job as a head coach of the national team, is it easier for you with the center to see or to have more players in your area available? In this case, you don't have to travel around the country all the year? Or is it the same? For me it's amazing because I can see every week all the games. I can see two three games for the National League because we play in Barcelona or maybe in Saturday, it's 20 minutes, play in Tabasa, Mataró. But the other teams, we have 12 teams in the National League. Nine teams are from Barcelona area and the other is Canoa from Madrid.

Speaker 2: Pamplona, Navarra, and the other is in Canary Island. I am lucky because I can see all the games. Of course, all the Champions League from Barcelona or the Europa League for Saturday or Barcelona, I can see every day directly. This is a good thing. The other bad thing is all the players are always in Barcelona. and after we started preparation in Barcelona. I think that if you want to grow up, maybe it's good that some players play outside of Spain and other countries for take experience. But I think that in Spain we live very, very well and the player is in the comfort zone. So there's no real reason to leave the country, Spain in this case, because it's everything there. So you the competition within the national league and you the competition all around the year then. you don't really need to leave the country. At least you mentioned the experience for young players maybe to leave the country for several years and come back and be even stronger in the Spanish league than after this experience in the other country. Yeah, for me this is important. But it's true that, for example, 10 years ago when we were playing in the national team, there were players like Guillermo Molina, Xavi Garcia, Felipe Perrone, Marmín Gay. He was going out of Spain to play. But in this moment it's true that Barcelona is a very, very strong team. You stay in Barcelona, you can play in the Champions League. Maybe you have a lot of...

Speaker 2: opportunity to play the final eight and this is a good thing for the players for the Spanish players and it's true that you are living in Barcelona one of the best cities in the world and you are comfortable but it's true that sometimes maybe not all the players but maybe some players need this experience to come back after with another perspective for our sport But I don't know. I don't know. This depends on every player. But for me, it's a good thing. Because it's true that for me, sometimes the I-1 makes some practice from training together. It's very easy. All in say tomorrow, today's we can train in them. For me, it's perfect. Yeah, so maybe in this case, it sounds like you have maybe from your team or the structure of the national team, some blocks from some teams or from not so many teams, maybe from Barcelona and the one or two other big clubs that you have really the blocks within your national team. So it's maybe some kind of the same situation here in Germany that you have maybe a block. coming from Spandau and the other block comes from Waspoh and then you have maybe one or two other players from other smaller clubs. But do you think it's an advantage for a national team that you have some blocks within your team? Is it easier maybe because they know each other much more better than? Yeah, they have good things and bad things. The good things is you have a lot of players playing together. Sometimes the game, need to look at your partner, teammate to make the movement, assist the goal. But after, if you want to change a lot of the style of play in the national team, they have...

Speaker 2: playing in one way all the season. And you have only four or five weeks to change this. We are lucky because in the last season, for example, Barcelona players are training with my brother. And the similar idea for my brother and for me, not changed nothing. Players arrive me with me maybe one or two things different but the style of play is very very similar. For example this season will be different because all the players from Barcelona are training with Elvis Fatowicz. It's another style. It's similar but still. This season will be the first time. I am sure that we need more time to change this networking in the water for the players. because it's normal. You are eight, nine months working in this way and after we arrive in only three or two weeks, we might change. So I think it's important. It's perfect. For me, the most important for all the national players is they can play in the Champions League European competition. This is more important because in this moment, the national league in Spain is not top level. There is Barcelona. Sabadei, Barcelona, Tarraza, but the other teams are not top level like in European competitions. And for me, very, important, for example, that Barcelona is playing the champions. And for example, Sabadei and Barcelona were playing the semifinals in the LAN. And now Sabadei will play the final. For me, it's the best training for the young players and for all the players. Yes, so that would be maybe also one of my next questions about the level of the Spanish league. You mentioned already that you have maybe three, four clubs really on an international good level with the competition and with the level of their level of water polo, that it's more important for the players that they are able to play in the Champions League. Yeah, at least you have these competitions also with other international clubs.

Speaker 1: coming back really to your role as a head coach. What is for you really the best argument or the biggest point where you say, okay, I'm really happy to be the head coach? So are there any points you would say, okay, this is really the top one or two reasons because I'm really happy to be the head coach of Spain. So I'm really sure that you are happy to be the head coach of Spain, but maybe also for me or also for the listeners here, how do you become to this or how do you come to the role as a head coach of Spain? Yeah, so are there any issues or problems, difficulties for you to make the transition from a player to a coach? there's... definitely some kind of development for yourself and for your personality. We start with the one or two questions, points where you say, okay, this is really the main key points because I'm happy to be the head coach of Spain. Good question. It was quickly this. I stopped playing in 2013. In the summer we started with an assistant coach with Rafa Aguilar in the World Championships in Barcelona. And after we started in Barcelona with the assistant coach of my brother. In the first season we won the Champions And after two years we will go to the Catalonia Federation in this centre. high-profile like a director with a manager. And after those two seasons, I received the proposal for the Spanish Federation. In the beginning, have a lot of, I am not sure because for me, the first time I will be the head coach of one team, not the national team, one team because I assistant coach in with Rafa Aguilar, assistant coach with my brother, but I never take our one team. I think that

Speaker 2: It's the best position in our sport, the head coach of our country like in Spain. I am privileged because I am very lucky because we have a lot of talent players to choose. And the best thing, but I think that you live like Olympic Games, World Championship with the possibility to win. This is amazing. For me, this is the best. That is thing for me. I don't have. And the other, this is a position that you can live with your family with a lot of months. For example, in September, October, I have two kids of 10 years. I can time for them. And after in summer, of course, I forgot all the family. live my life. And after, I can live my dream. If you are the coach of the one team, for example, Barcelona ETA, all the stress is very, very strong. Very, And for me, this is one of the things that we want to stay here, like a coach from Spain. I want to change all the mentality of this country. I want to make in the history. because we have a country with a lot of history in water polo with Olympic medal, world champions. And my dream is make history with this team. But after, I am sure that I will try the opportunity to coach some clubs, some strong clubs, I need this experience. But in this moment, for me, this is the best the best place for living.

Speaker 1: Yeah, and you it sounds like that you are also able to manage all these other aspects like family and have your personal stuff and personal interests. Yeah. So in combination with these kind of role as a head coach, yeah. So you mentioned that it's much more pressure or stress in this case for a club trainer, as maybe for the head coach of a country. Yeah. No, think you have a lot of stress in two months in the summer. When you start the stress, look, look, look at my hair. When I was assistant coach, we had more hair. But now, like I coach with Spain, I lost in one season. No, no, I think that the stress is the same. But... you have a stress in two or three months. The other side you have stress in nine or ten months. And for me it is very, very important to live with my kids, take my kids to school. This moment for me is very, important. And if I was the head coach of Barcelona, for example, I don't have this time. For me this is important because my kids now have 10 years. After four five years, my kids don't want to stay with me, sure, but now I want enjoy this moment. And for me, if you are working with the national team, you have this opportunity. The other side, more difficult. So when you end your active career as a player, do you have any time or the idea or the plan to be a coach at some point in time? Or do you say, OK, it's really by accident, maybe in this case, that you start your career as a coach or become a head coach? So are there any plans during your active career or saying, OK, I will never be a coach? And then, here you are.

Speaker 2: I always dream of being a coach. In last two or three years as a player, I started studying to become a coach. I remember in the last season with my coach, for example, Santi Fernandez, I was the captain in Barcelona, and Rafa Aguilar in the national team. After the games, we always talked about tactics. the men, the defence, the attack, I always have the mentality to be a coach. And the last season I prepared for this. Okay.

Speaker 1: Yeah, so when you're talking about your previous coaches, maybe during your active career as a player, are there any main points where you say, okay, I really have this also as part of my coaching strategy coming from somebody as an active of your coaches in the past that you say, okay, this kind of tactic or philosophy or training practice exercises or whatever. So are there any things where you can say, okay, this is coming from from my coaches during my active career? I think that like a coach, you must learn a lot of things as an all your coach. All. I have things from Santi Fernandez, for Rafa Gallard, for Joan Janet. But if I must name some coach that for me was very, very important, one is Bagelis Rupakas. He's a great coach that he was working in Barcelona when I was 90. 20 years. With him, I learned a lot of things with tactics, techniques. I remember very, very nice this season with him. And of course, my brother. With my brother, I learned a lot. We have one similarity there from the Battle Polo, the moving men, the counter-attack, fast Battle Polo. And I learned a lot with him in three years for me. But I think that you must learn little things. You must learn the things that you don't want to do, the things that you want to do with other players. And for me, was very important, for example, that when you stay in one team, where you two met, you learn a lot of things.

Speaker 2: And I think that it helped me to the players because maybe you can feel what is the feeling in the team when you lost, when you win, before the competition. And I think that this is a mix. You must learn a little bit about your coach, your own experience. And of course, there is some person in your life that is more important.

Speaker 1: So we already reached the end of this podcast episode again. Thanks for listening and stay tuned also for the second part of the discussion with David. We will publish this episode next Saturday. Until then, keep safe and keep healthy and greetings from Hannover.