My first week as an intern in the communications department of Real Madrid Femenino was filled with excitement, fascination, and many new experiences.
On Monday, I was still quite nervous, but after a friendly office tour and meeting my colleagues, I started to feel more at ease. I had the chance to observe training from a distance and began with some initial research tasks to gradually get familiar with the workflows.
Tuesday was probably the most exciting day of the week. The Champions League match of the week was coming up, and I got to witness goalkeeper Misa receiving the award for Mahou Five Star Player of January. She first gave an interview for Real Madrid TV and then took part in a photoshoot for the website and social media. The training up close was especially interesting, as I got to meet the staff and was given a detailed explanation of the tasks a press officer handles during training. Later, I attended the press conference, observed the processes, accompanied journalists and photographers, and guided them to the parking lot through pouring rain. It was fascinating to see how much planning and coordination goes into even the smallest details. I ended the day with some office work before heading home.
Wednesday was a day off since the team was in Paris for the Champions League. It was a welcome chance to recharge and prepare for the rest of the week.
Thursday was dedicated to administrative tasks in the office. I received a detailed introduction on how accreditations for the upcoming Champions League match against Paris are assigned and organized, giving me a valuable behind-the-scenes perspective.
Friday was a quieter day as the players had returned from Paris the day before. Training was relaxed, and not all players participated. Before training, I had the opportunity to observe interviews for Real Madrid TV with Pau Comendador and coach Pau Quesada, which was especially insightful for understanding media work up close.
On Saturday, the B-team played against Europa, winning 2:0. Although it was on a smaller scale than the first team, I was able to experience a matchday from the perspective of a media officer and gained a good understanding of the B-team’s level of play and the processes behind a smooth-running matchday.
All in all, it was an intense but incredibly exciting first week. I gained new insights into professional football media work, got to know a dedicated team, and already collected a lot of practical experience. I am really looking forward to the coming weeks and to learning and experiencing even more.