Lippo Hertzka: The coach behind Real Madrid's first championship

Published on: 03 April 2020

In 1930, Real Madrid had yet to win a Spanish league title, yet in Lippo Hertzka they saw a coach who could take the club to the next level.

After arriving in the capital at 26 years of age, he duly steered the club to their first domestic championship.

His playing career was an underwhelming one, although he arrived at Real Sociedad from Essener Turnebund, but at just 22 years old he became the Basque club's first professional coach.

Next, he moved to Athletic Club before leaving for Sevilla and Real Madrid were desperate to attract the best in class.

Hertzka arrived in the midst of an electoral crisis at the capital city club, with Antonio Bernabeu, Santiago's older brother, having resigned.

Luis Usera was the stand-in president and he signed both Hertzka and goalkeeper Ricardo Zamora to help push the club towards the promised land of domestic success.

The Budapest-born coach was labelled soft in his first season in charge as Los Merengues finished sixth and were eliminated from the domestic cup at the quarter-final stage.

Many doubted him going into his second season, but the went on to win the league championship without losing a single match.

However, further cup disappointment against lower league opposition in Deportivo meant the club dispensed with Hertzka's services.

Source: m.allfootballapp.com

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