Luis Miguel Ramis first stepped onto the LaLiga stage as a player with Real Madrid, later adding a league title to his résumé while wearing the Deportivo La Coruña shirt. Now 56, his journey back to Spain’s premier division has taken a longer route, this time from the sidelines.
After a decade shaping young talent in Real Madrid’s famed academy and another ten years navigating the lower tiers of Spanish football, Ramis has been appointed head coach of Osasuna this summer. "The opportunity presented itself," he told Sky Sports, "and I’m ready and eager to take on the challenge." Osasuna is no ordinary appointment. The Pamplona‑based side has long been praised as a model club in Spain, consistently over‑achieving thanks to a clear strategic vision and a productive youth system. Yet the previous campaign saw them teeter on the brink of relegation, slipping to 17th place and narrowly avoiding the drop.
Their most valuable asset, Victor Muñoz, has already moved on to Liverpool, leaving a void that Ramis is keen to fill—not with marquee signings, but with a cohesive, well‑balanced unit. "I want a squad that embodies collective spirit, organization and balance," Ramis explained. "A solid defensive framework and a shared mentality are essential." His emphasis on a "heavy physical workload" during pre‑season reflects a pragmatic approach: he wants his players prepared for the inevitable grind of a LaLiga campaign.
Though a former defender himself, Ramis appreciates the artistry of the game as much as its physical demands. Reflecting on his playing days, Ramis smiles when recalling his time alongside Robert Prosinečki at both Real Madrid and Sevilla. The charismatic Croatian was known for lighting up the locker room with his eccentric habits, including occasional half‑time smoking, which was tolerated because of his undeniable talent. Later, at Deportivo, Ramis shared the dressing room with Djalminha, the fiery Brazilian playmaker whose brilliance helped the Galician club clinch the league title at the turn of the century.
When asked whether he could handle such mavericks as a manager, Ramis laughs, "Not at all! They were exceptional teammates who inspired with their skill. Personal lives were irrelevant; mutual respect in the locker room mattered most." He does, however, acknowledge that football has evolved dramatically.
"Talent still matters, and star players still emerge, but the physical conditioning of athletes has improved dramatically," he notes. Modern clubs now boast dedicated nutritionists, sports psychologists, and state‑of‑the‑art facilities, while coaching methods have become more sophisticated.
In the past, a team could rely heavily on raw talent; today, success demands a blend of ability, discipline, mental strength, and professionalism. Ramis’s decade at Real Madrid’s academy gave him a front‑row seat to the development of future stars, including Martin Ødegaard, now a Premier League standout and captain of Arsenal. He recalls Ødegaard’s raw ability and adds, "What he needed was hard work, sacrifice and a competitive edge.
He’s become a reference point in England and for Norway." This philosophy underpins Ramis’s belief that the highest levels are reached not merely through innate skill but through relentless effort, responsibility, and character in crucial moments. He hopes to instill these values at Osasuna, a club renowned for nurturing home‑grown talent. A decade ago, Osasuna gave more minutes to domestic players than any other top‑flight European side, and many of those graduates now feature regularly in the first team.
Ramis sees his background in youth development as a perfect fit. "Spending so much time in Real Madrid’s academy taught me how to develop younger players," he says. "If we deem an academy player ready, we give them game time to continue their progression and experience the demands of top‑division football." However, Ramis is no longer at La Fábrica; his current task is far more immediate.
Osasuna, the sole major club in Navarre, is entering its eighth consecutive LaLiga season and is determined to stay up. "Every club has its own needs and characteristics," he acknowledges, emphasizing that the goal is not merely survival but improvement.
The primary objective, according to Ramis, is to avoid the pitfalls of last season. "We want consistency in the team’s behavior and identity," he states. "There will be highs and lows, but we aim for a steady performance level and a clear playing style." After years spent guiding others toward the top flight, the responsibility now rests on Ramis to lead Osasuna forward.
His blend of tactical acumen, emphasis on physical preparation, and commitment to youth development positions him as a promising figure for the Pamplona club’s ambitions. The season ahead will test his ideas, but with a clear vision and a willingness to work hard, Ramis aims to write a new chapter in Osasuna’s growing legacy.