Entertainment
From football pitch to recording studio: Laliga players who embarked on music careers
- Many LaLiga players are famous not only for their footballing exploits but also for their musical talents!
Football and music go hand in hand. Listen closely and there’s music all around football, from the songs sung by fans in the stands to the motivational tunes blaring in dressing rooms before kick-off.
It shouldn’t really be a surprise, then, that many LaLiga footballers have tried their hand at music over the years, either during their playing careers or after… and with varying degrees of success! Let’s take look at just some of the players who have swapped their boots for beats over the years.
SERGIO RAMOS
As a keen fan of flamenco, the Real Madrid captain has long loved singing and playing the guitar. Ramos has regularly expressed his love for music and has revealed that he often unwinds by writing his own songs. He has also contributed to the official songs for the Spanish national team’s Euro 2016 and 2018 World Cup campaigns, collaborating with world-famous artists like Niña Pastori and Demarco.
JESÉ
The Real Madrid youth graduate has long been interested in music and, in 2014, formed a reggaeton band with close friend DJ Nuno. The group, Big Flow, released tracks through YouTube to some success and it wasn’t long before Jesé went solo and started to release his own music under the name Jey M, donating profits from his music to research into disease prevention.
JOSÉ MANUEL PINTO
A goalkeeper whose hands were made for music as well as catching footballs, José Manuel Pinto founded his own music label – Wahin Makinaciones, based on his stage name Pinto ‘Wahin’ – while he was still playing football for Celta Vigo before making the move to join Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona.
In 2015 he released a record,Eres Especial (‘You’re Special’), with Barça teammate Dani Alves and has since had great success as a producer. Having gained a university degree in sound engineering and a master’s in musical production, Pinto was among the engineers who worked on Niña Pastori’s Amame Como Soy, which won the 2016 Latin Grammy for Best Flamenco Album.
ROYSTON DRENTHE
Former Real Madrid winger Royston Drenthe launched a rap career under the name Roya2Faces as his playing days were coming to an end. For those who knew him best, this came as no surprise; Drenthe had a long-standing interest in rap music and has many friends in the industry, most notably U-Niq who, like Drenthe, hails from Rotterdam and who taught him how to write music. While Drenthe came back out of retirement to sign for Sparta Rotterdam this summer, he remains passionate about hip hop and expects to write more songs in the future.
JULIO IGLESIAS
Julio Iglesias is one of the most famous singers in Spain and across the Spanish-speaking world and in 2013 was recognised by the Guinness World Records as the best-selling male Latin artist in history. Impressively, the 75-year-old’s 1983 album Julio was the first foreign-language album to hit the 2 million sales mark in the USA. Before this music career, though, the Madrid native played football for Real Madrid Castilla, the capital city side’s B team. An injury cut his footballing career short, however, and opened up a new door into the music world. Every cloud…
Julio Iglesias
ÁLVARO BENITO
The story of Álvaro Benito shares many parallels to that of Julio Iglesias. Benito also came through Real Madrid’s youth ranks, in his case as a promising midfielder, making 21 LaLiga appearances for the first team across the 1995/96 and 1996/97 seasons and scoring a couple of goals. However, he too was plagued by injury and had to retire from football at the age of 27, at which point he founded a punk rock band called Pignoise, for which he is lead singer and guitarist. Influenced by Green Day and Blink-182, they’ve released eight albums to date.
GERMÁN BURGOS
The former Atlético Madrid goalkeeper and Diego Simeone’s current assistant is another big music fan, in his case of rock music. Lead singer of rock band GARB since the 1990s, the group released a couple of Spanish-language albums in the early noughties as his career was winding down. Fun fact: the name GARB comes from the initials of Burgos’s full name, Germán Adrián Ramón Burgos.
GAIZKA MENDIETA
Following his retirement from football, former Valencia, Barcelona and Spain midfielder Gaizka Mendieta turned to DJing in 2008 with great success. He regularly plays sets across London, and was even invited to DJ at the build-up to the Real Madrid vs Juventus Champions League final in Cardiff in 2017. Mendieta, today a LaLiga Ambassador, was regularly seen in record stores during his playing days and now dedicates a lot of time to his second passion in life.
Alvaro Benito
Entertainment
You’re a priceless gift: Gov Mbah Celebrates Jim Nwobodo at 85
… Nwobodo: Mbah is a Success, reports SANDRA ANI
Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, at the weekend, led other who-is-who in the state to celebrate elder statesman and a former governor of old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo
Speaking during the 85th birthday anniversary celebration event in honour of Nwobodo at his Amechi Awkunanaw, Enugu, country home, Friday evening, Mbah recalled the octogenarian’s outstanding service to Enugu State, old Anambra State, Nigeria, and humanity in various capacities, describing him as an epitome of excellence.
“It will be difficult to find words that amply capture the true essence of what Dr. Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo represents. Your life is a living proof that the true value of existence is selfless service.
“Nothing endears one to his people than selfless service. That is what you epitomise. The men and women gathered here today to celebrate you is a reflection of that selfless service that you have provided for the people of Enugu State and Nigeria.
“Today, we celebrate an extraordinary journey. We celebrate 85 years of impactful life.
“As Governor at 39 years, you left bold legacies that are still evident today. As a Minister of Youth and Sport, your record remains unbeatable; and it’s still a heartwarming reference point in this country. As a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, you were an epitome of courage and patriotism. We are indeed very proud of you.
“You are a priceless gift to humanity and to Enugu State and indeed our dear country. We are so blessed to have you. You have also provided a shoulder on which countless leaders stand on. You are a charismatic, yet unassuming leader; a man of all seasons,” the governor stated.
He wished him many happy returns in sound health and cherished moments so that the new generation of leaders could continue to benefit from his fatherly counsel and wealth of experience.
In his remarks, Nwobodo enjoined leaders to utilise the opportunities God had given to them to work for the people, citing the Mbah example in Enugu State.
“Today, Peter (Mbah) is a success. Whether anybody likes it or not. He is a success because the results speak for him. Whatever he is in Enugu today was God’s design from time. God gave it to him. God inspires all that he is doing in Enugu today.
“Governor Mbah also listens. He really does. I suggested something to him not long ago. He reflected on it and told me that he would do it. Today, he is already doing it. That is how your know a leader that would go far,” the elder statesman said.
While thanking the governor for organising a state event to mark his birthday, Nwobodo said that Mbah had underscored the need to celebrate people while they are alive.
“I did not expect an elaborate celebration as this. But the governor insisted on celebrating me so well. He maintained that it was better to celebrate people when they are alive, to say all the beautiful things to their hearing. So, Governor, I thank you for this show of love and thank all of you, who came out in your numbers to celebrate me,” he added.
Also, at the event were the former governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai; members of the Enugu State Executive Council; serving and former federal and state lawmakers, Council Chairmen under the leadership of the Chairman, Enugu State chapter of ALGON, Hon. Okechukwu Edeh, as well as the traditional rulers led by the Chairman, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, His Majesty, Igwe Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu, among a host of others.
The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of Christian faith. In commemoration of this, the Love of God in Christ (LOGIC) Church is hosting the first edition of the Jesus + Nothing Worship, an uplifting evening dedicated to expressing the message of the death, burial and resurrection in music.
This event will be held on, Friday, April 18, 2025, by 4PM, at The LOGIC Church headquarters in Lekki, Lagos.
The event offers worshippers an opportunity to connect with the essence of the Gospel in worship.
The Lead Pastor and Apostolic Head of the LOGIC Church, Apostle Flourish Peters, asserts that worship is a significant part of the New Testament believers’ experience in Christ.
“As a Christocentric faith community, this event is a great way to celebrate the gift of Christ, who laid down his life for our redemption. Good Friday is a great time to have a worship celebration like this,” notes Peters.
On the context for the event, he notes, “Nothing speaks to the culture of a people like the music they listen to.
Jesus + Nothing Worship will contribute to shaping and mainstreaming a culture of christocentric worship, where the Gospel of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection is platformed through worship.
With Nigeria’s young demography heavily influenced by the music and the arts, Christocentric music is a powerful tool in pointing this generation to Christ,”
Guest ministers expected include; Ministers Neon Adejo, Greatman Takit, Victor Thompson, Timi Dakolo, Samuel Giveson (SMJ), Noble G, Steve Hills, and Lily Perez. Others include Ministers Joxie, Anderson Qozan, Pastor Victor Paul, EmekaSongz, Flo, Dorcas Moore, Magpsalms, Mera Owili, Gerald Bishung, Phebe Lion, and the vibrant Evolution Children’s Choir.
The Jesus + Nothing Worship is a free event and attendees are guaranteed an unforgettable experience.
For more information, visit the official website: https://thelogicchurch.org/en/ and follow on YouTube at @TheLOGICChurch and on Instagram at @thelogicchurch.
Spotify today announced the launch of its ‘Detty December’ hub with playlists for December, a celebration of the vibrant festive season in West Africa and South Africa. The hub is a one-stop shop for all things Detty December, with curated playlists featuring the biggest hits and emerging sounds of the season. Users can find everything from Afrobeats and Amapiano anthems to chilled-out vibes for those much-needed recovery days.
“Detty December is a special time for our users in West Africa and ke Dezemba symbolises South Africa’s spirit of celebration,” said Phiona Okumu, Head of Music at Spotify Sub-Saharan Africa. “We’re excited to be part of their celebrations with this dedicated hub and playlists, bringing them the best music to soundtrack their festive moments.”
This unapologetic season of street jams, back-to-back concerts, and endless summer fun has developed its own culture that draws diaspora and local fans alike. The curated sounds of Spotify’s Detty December hub will pay homage to the Lagos rooftop lounges, Accra’s beachside festivals, and South Africa’s township tunes that keep people grooving.
In addition to the hub, Spotify has also launched a new playlist called ‘Songs of Detty December’. This playlist is a curated list from Spotify Africa’s editors on the songs predicted to dominate this year’s Detty December. From DJ Skelm’s Afro Tech sounds to Flytime Fest’s tour of songs that tell Africa’s aspirational stories, the hub will be the home of takeover playlists that display Africa’s diverse talent. Barrier-breaking Amapiano talent Kamo_ww has taken over a South African Summer playlist too.
Spotify is also supporting Jerk x Jollof, a popular event making its way to Africa for the first time, through its Frequency program. Held at The Ostrich event space, the Jerk x Jollof Cape Town takeover will feature DJs and artists such as TxC, DBN Gogo, Spinall, Sarz and Odeal, merging the spirit of Detty December and ke Dezemba experiences and bringing South and West African cultures and artists together.
“We’re committed to supporting African music and culture,” said Okumu. “We believe that music is a powerful way to bring people together, and we’re excited to be part of the Detty December celebrations.”
You can keep the good vibes going as you make your way to the hotel, beach or next Detty December party with Spotify’s curated and immersive sound selection. Discover something new or run the year’s best party anthems back on your app today.
The ‘Detty December’ hub is available now on Spotify.
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