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Interviews

JUE 23.03.2023 | Interviews

Zamorano, Casillas Led this Fan to Real Madrid

Thomas Nef remembers hearing stories of Iván Zamorano growing up. The prolific Chilean striker scored more than 100 goals for Real Madrid between 1992-96, including a league-leading 28 to guide Los Blancos to the 1994/95 LaLiga title.

Interviews

JUE 23.03.2023

Thomas Nef remembers hearing stories of Iván Zamorano growing up. The prolific Chilean striker scored more than 100 goals for Real Madrid between 1992-96, including a league-leading 28 to guide Los Blancos to the 1994/95 LaLiga title.

After moving from Chile to Edmonton, Canada when he was 9 years old, Nef’s interest and fandom with Real Madrid continued to grow. He was in awe of goalkeeper Iker Casillas, who not only starred for the 35-time LaLiga champions from 1999 until 2015, but was also in net for the Spanish national team that won the 2008 UEFA European Championship, 2010 FIFA World Cup and 2012 Euros.

I was a goalkeeper growing up so watching Iker Casillas playing on a regular basis was amazing,” Nef says. “I fell in love with the position because of Iker Casillas. I’m a fan of Real Madrid because of the dynasty Spain had from 2008-12 with Casillas being a big part of that.”

Now 24, Nef has leveraged his soccer passion and fandom into his professional career as a sports journalist. He is one of the co-owners of Dosis Futbolera, a digital media company that covers soccer in America and Europe with more than 150 writers throughout 20 countries.

While he hasn’t been to Santiago Bernabéu as a fan or journalist yet, Dosis Futbolera has two accredited journalists who cover Real Madrid week in and week out.

“To see something I helped start and create to be accredited to Real Madrid is massive,” Nef says. “It was a dream come true.”

With watching or covering Real Madrid in person on his bucket list, Nef has been able to travel the globe thanks to his favorite sport. 

He was at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia as a fan and at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar as a journalist; he’s also been to France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. 

“It’s something I still dream of doing and I need to knock off my bucket list,” he says. “Getting credited for a Real Madrid match is on the list of things to do.”

FULL SERIES:

Galician Roots in Brooklyn

Finding a Family Abroad

A LaLiga Love Story

A Divided Household

The Unexpected Fan

A Home Away from Home

An Atlético Legacy

The Real Madrid Collector 

Converted By Andalusia

It’s Been Too Long

The Return of the Underdogs

Love at First Sight

Building a Community in LA 

The President

A Family Tradition

A Breakaway from Household Support

The Rebellious Fan

The Golden Era

Mes Que Un Club 

The Bucket List

All in the Family

An Unforgettable Honeymoon

Real’s remontadas roped in this fan

Unexpected Encounter Leads to Unforgettable Experience

Més Que Una Penya

Sevilla Fandom Comes Full Circle

UD Almería unites community in New Jersey

Basque Roots Grow in Meaning for Boise Student

Local peña helps Celta Vigo fans overcome morriña

Betis is in Berro’s Blood

San Diego, the Birthplace of the first Cádiz Peña in the U.S.

Fate, luck and curiosity brought this fan to Atleti

Real Sociedad fandom blossoming in Boise

Growing up in awe of Sánchez, Real Madrid

Ortegas proudly promote Real Betis around the globe

¡Vamos mi Sevilla! ¡Vamos Nueva York!

Mexico’s Márquez Converted This Culé

Covid can’t stop this Valencia CF socio

Living near the Bernabéu led to this fan loving Real Madrid

How a U.S. Elementary School Principal Helped Save Real Oviedo

Growing the Beautiful Game in Montreal and Beyond

Uruguay’s Forlán Helped This Fan Fall in Love With Atleti

Ready to stick with RCD Mallorca through thick and thin

Behind this Barça Fan’s Pregame Ritual

A Fan’s Growing Barça Obsession in Toronto

Villarreal Academy Creates New Fans in Nebraska

Zamorano, Casillas Led this Fan to Real Madrid

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