David Wineland
2012 Nobel Laureate in Physics | Pioneer of Trapped-Ion Quantum Computing | Philip H. Knight Research Chair, University of Oregon | U.S. National Medal of Science
Jorge Valdano
1986 World Cup Champion with Argentina | Former Real Madrid Player, Coach & General Manager | Author of 'The 11 Powers of the Leader' | Football Philosopher
Few figures bridge elite sport and business as fluently as Jorge Valdano. A 1986 World Cup winner with Argentina, Real Madrid legend, and architect of the club's Galácticos era as General Manager, he distilled his experience into 'The 11 Powers of the Leader.' His keynotes give senior audiences a clear blueprint for leadership, motivation, and high-performance teamwork — drawn from the locker room, built for the boardroom.
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Jorge Valdano biography
Jorge Valdano is one of football’s most influential thinkers and a world-renowned authority on leadership, teamwork, and high performance. Argentine by birth and Spanish by adoption, sports speaker Jorge Valdano won the 1986 FIFA World Cup with Argentina — scoring in the final against West Germany — and built a celebrated club career at Real Madrid, where he lifted two La Liga titles and two UEFA Cups as a player. Often called “The Philosopher of Football,” he has spent decades translating the lessons of elite sport into practical wisdom for business leaders.
After retiring as a player, Valdano coached Tenerife to a UEFA Cup berth and won La Liga as Real Madrid’s manager in the 1994–95 season. He later became Real Madrid’s Sporting Director (2000–2005) and General Manager (2009–2011), where he architected the organizational model behind the legendary “Galácticos” era that brought Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, Ronaldo, and Luís Figo to the Bernabéu, transforming the club into a truly global brand.
From the Locker Room to the Boardroom
In 1999, Valdano co-founded Makeateam alongside Juan Antonio Corbalán and Andoni Zubizarreta, a pioneering consultancy that translates the values of elite sport into corporate leadership and team development. His bestselling book The 11 Powers of the Leader — built around eleven qualities that define great leadership, from credibility and humility to passion and talent — has become required reading for executives across Latin America, Spain, and beyond. He has also published influential works such as Sueños de fútbol and Fútbol: el juego infinito.
Today, Valdano is one of the leading voices in Spanish-language football journalism through Movistar Plus+, where he hosts the program Universo Valdano and provides expert analysis on La Liga and Champions League broadcasts.
As a speaker, Jorge Valdano captivates corporate audiences with a rare blend of sporting authority, intellectual depth, and storytelling craft. Drawing on World Cup memories, dressing-room anecdotes, and his years managing one of the world’s most demanding institutions, he gives senior leaders a clear framework for building motivated teams, making tough decisions under pressure, and sustaining high performance over time.
Jorge Valdano Speaking Videos
Jorge Valdano - Leadership conference
Jorge Valdano
Jorge Valdano Keynote Topics
In his most requested keynote, Jorge Valdano translates the lessons of elite sport into a practical framework for 21st-century leadership. Building on the idea that every great team is, above all, a state of mind, he unpacks eleven qualities that define leaders capable of getting the best from high-performance teams: credibility, hope, passion, humility, curiosity, talent, style, the spoken word, the locker room, simplicity, and success.
Using memorable anecdotes from World Cup dressing rooms, Champions League nights, and Real Madrid's transformation, Valdano shows executives how to inspire commitment, manage egos, and create environments where talent thrives. The result is a session that is intellectually rich, emotionally engaging, and immediately applicable in any organization.
Few people have shaped a global sports brand as decisively as Jorge Valdano. As Sporting Director (2000–2005) and General Manager (2009–2011) of Real Madrid, he helped design the organizational and management model behind the club's legendary Galácticos era, signing icons such as Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, Ronaldo, and Luís Figo.
In this keynote, Valdano takes audiences inside that transformation — how Real Madrid evolved from a purely sporting bet into a global business where marketing, communication, profitability, and worldwide media relevance carried equal weight. Executives leave with a vivid case study on brand-building, leadership at scale, and how to align high-performing talent around a shared institutional vision.
Teamwork is one of the most coveted — and most elusive — assets in any organization. Drawing on his career with Argentina's national team, Real Madrid, and the corporate world, Jorge Valdano explains exactly what it takes to build groups that perform at the highest level when it matters most.
He explores the role of commitment, shared purpose, trust between specialists and generalists, and the leader's responsibility in creating the climate that makes excellence possible. Through stories from World Cup-winning dressing rooms and the inner workings of Real Madrid, Valdano gives executives a candid, human, and highly transferable view of what really separates good teams from great ones.
"Sometimes you have to make decisions that are not pleasant." That conviction, forged across two terms running Real Madrid, sits at the heart of one of Jorge Valdano's most powerful keynotes.
He takes audiences through the mechanics of decision-making in environments where every move is scrutinized: how to identify the right moment to act, how to weigh sporting, financial, and human factors, and how to avoid the cost of decisions made too late, too soon, or for the wrong reasons. Using practical examples from elite football and corporate strategy, Valdano helps senior leaders sharpen their judgment when stakes are high and time is short.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Jorge Valdano
Why Jorge Valdano?
Booking Jorge Valdano is a strategic decision for any organization that wants to inspire its leaders and teams with the proven principles of elite sport. As a 1986 FIFA World Cup champion with Argentina, Real Madrid legend, former Sporting Director and General Manager, and author of the bestseller 'The 11 Powers of the Leader,' Valdano combines world-class sporting credentials with decades of executive experience inside one of football's most demanding institutions. Known as 'The Philosopher of Football,' he is a uniquely articulate speaker who turns dressing-room stories and Galácticos-era decisions into a practical framework for leadership, teamwork, and high performance. His keynotes resonate with C-level audiences across finance, technology, healthcare, and consumer brands, making him an outstanding choice for events focused on leadership, transformation, and team excellence.
What did Jorge Valdano achieve as Real Madrid's General Manager?
Jorge Valdano served Real Madrid in senior executive roles across two periods: as Sporting Director from 2000 to 2005, and as General Manager from 2009 to 2011. During his first tenure he played a central role in shaping the celebrated Galácticos era, helping bring stars like Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, Ronaldo, and Luís Figo to the Bernabéu, and designing a new organizational model that turned Real Madrid into a global business in which marketing, communication, profitability, and media relevance mattered as much as sporting results. That model went on to influence how many of the world's leading clubs are now run.
Did Jorge Valdano win the World Cup with Argentina?
Yes. Jorge Valdano was a key member of the Argentina team that won the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, alongside Diego Maradona. He scored four goals throughout the tournament, including Argentina's second goal in the final against West Germany, and is widely regarded as one of the most intelligent forwards of his generation. Earlier in his career he had also played at the 1982 World Cup, and at club level he won two La Liga titles and two UEFA Cups with Real Madrid as a player, plus another La Liga as the club's head coach in 1994–95.
What topics does sports speaker Jorge Valdano cover?
Sports speaker Jorge Valdano specializes in leadership, teamwork, motivation, decision-making under pressure, and high-performance culture, all framed through the lens of elite sport and his years running Real Madrid. His most requested keynotes include 'The 11 Powers of the Leader,' the transformation of Real Madrid's management model in the Galácticos era, building world-class teams, and making strategic decisions in volatile environments. He is an ideal choice for corporate conventions, leadership summits, sales kickoffs, and executive offsites for senior audiences in any industry. To bring Jorge Valdano to your next event, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
How to book Jorge Valdano as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Jorge Valdano as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Jorge Valdano's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Jorge Valdano or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Jorge Valdano speaking fee?
Jorge Valdano speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Jorge Valdano to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Jorge Valdano.
How can I contact Jorge Valdano?
We only work with Jorge Valdano on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Jorge Valdano and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Jorge Valdano speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Jorge Valdano for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Jorge Valdano for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Jorge Valdano is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Jorge Valdano for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
