Hailing from Leeds, Joe completed his Spanish degree in 2018 and subsequently became an English instructor for football (soccer) players and coaches, while also working with various football media platforms in both English and Spanish. He became part of AS in 2022, covering the men’s and women’s games throughout Europe and beyond.
Hailing from Leeds, Joe completed his Spanish degree in 2018 and subsequently became an English instructor for football (soccer) players and coaches. He has also worked with various football media organizations in both English and Spanish. In 2022, he became part of AS, where he reports on both men’s and women’s football across Europe and beyond.
Joe’s Journey in Football Media
With Jude Bellingham unavailable for the Real Madrid lineup, head coach Álvaro Arbeloa opted to give young midfield talent Thiago Pitarch a starting position.
Getafe will make the brief journey north to the Bernabéu stadium for a local league encounter to conclude match day 29 in the 2025-26 LaLiga season. Leading up to the match, there were uncertainties regarding Arbeloa’s likely starting lineup, with several players suggested as replacements for the injured Camavinga and Bellingham, both unavailable for this game.
Few anticipated that the coach, who had previously led the youth team, would choose to bring along Thiago, a promising central midfielder from the academy.
Role of English Instructors
At just 18 years old, Thiago Pitarch hails from Fuenlabrada, a town located in the southwest outskirts of Madrid. He has received multiple call-ups to the senior team this season due to the persistent injury issues affecting Madrid’s midfield. Now, he is poised to showcase his talent on the field as Madrid aims to narrow the points gap with FC Barcelona at the top of the league standings.
Before joining Real Madrid, he was part of the youth squads for Atlético Madrid, Getafe, and Leganés, where he played for the U17s, U19s, and Castilla, the B team of Real Madrid.
If you believe you’ve encountered him previously, your perception is accurate. The midfielder made his debut for Madrid as a substitute during the final moments of the away match in Portugal against Benfica on February 17, before replacing fellow academy graduate Gonzalo García for the last six minutes of the return fixture, marking his inaugural appearance at the Bernabéu.
Real Madrid Lineup Decisions
At just 18 years and 211 days, Thiago Pitarch 🇪🇸 becomes the second youngest Spanish player to start a @LaLigaEN match for @realmadriden ⚪️⚪️ in the 21st century, following Javi García, who did so in 2004 against Racing Santander at 17 years and 314 days. What a moment! pic.twitter.com/lQWzSUABWy — OptaJose (@OptaJose) March 2, 2026
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