Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores has been shaped by giants of the game but his inspiration comes from his aunt Lola

Watford’s new manager Quique Sanchez Flores comes from a family of stars
His mother was a famous actress of the 1950s and father was a footballer
Flores’ aunt Lola, an internationally-acclaimed dancer, is his inspiration
The Hornets boss reveals he uses his experiences to improve as a coach
Real Madrid great Alfredo Di Stefano was his godfather and ‘second father’

Sam Cunningham for the Daily Mail

Published:
21:45 GMT, 13 August 2015

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Updated:
00:32 GMT, 14 August 2015

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Quique Sanchez Flores’ mother Carmen was a famous actress of the 1950s, his father, Isidro, a Real Madrid defender and Alfredo Di Stefano was his godfather, yet still the most exotic influence on his managerial career is his internationally-acclaimed flamenco-dancing aunt. Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl.

Lola Flores, his mother’s sister, had three children — Dolores, Antonio and Rosario — who all became singers and actors while the Watford manager followed his father and became a professional footballer. Birthday dinners in the Flores household must not have been for the faint-hearted.

Two decades after the death of Lola, a Spanish icon, from breast cancer and her son tragically committing suicide soon after, the artiste’s soul still runs deep in Flores having spent many an hour in theatres, immersed in the life of performers.

Quique Sanchez Flores took charge of his first game as a Premier League boss against Everton last weekend

The 50-year-old Spaniard has revealed his inspiration is his aunt Lola, an internationally-acclaimed dancer

‘Some of those experiences from earlier in my life help me to try and be a better manager,’ Flores said. ‘I’ve seen a lot of things in my life — I have been many times in theatres, and amazing places, watching some of the most brilliant dancers, artists and performers in Spain.

‘For me it is very important to entertain fans who come to the match. I compare this kind of profession with theatre artists. When we are preparing a performance it is important to create emotion in the stands. Sometimes, when we are training and working on a specific task, we try to understand that we are preparing something special.’

The stage on Saturday will be Vicarage Road where Watford face West Bromwich Albion in Flores’ first home match in charge. The Spaniard has been in England for less than three months but already has such a command of the language to describe his players as ‘protagonists’ (admittedly, the Spanish word ‘protagonista’ is similar). Yet he has been preparing for this performance for a long time and started to learn English two years ago.

‘I am not the protagonist,’ the 50-year-old said. ‘It’s most important the players feel like the protagonist of the pitch. The coach, we should be behind the stage. For me the most important thing as a coach is to be on the side thinking about the performance. I am the director. I have the final cut, of the film.’

Flores, who has previously manager Atletico Madrid and Valencia, took charge of Watford earlier this summer

We can forgive him, at this stage, for the mixed film and theatre metaphors. Among a family of stars, Flores carved his own fame and success, as a player winning the Segunda Division in 1987 with Valencia and La Liga with Real Madrid in 1995, then more trophies in management at Benfica, Atletico Madrid — where he lifted the Europa League — and in the Middle East.

At Valencia, Di Stefano was Flores’ manager and the young right-back worried that the other players thought the great Argentine picked him due to their family ties. ‘Di Stefano for me is like a second father,’ Flores said. ‘I have luck to share with Alfredo a lot of things.’

When Flores’ parents separated in the 1970s, their already strong bond became even closer. ‘The relationship of Alfredo’s wife Sara and my mother was amazing. They helped so much my family in a difficult situation. After I found Alfredo my coach in Valencia. I was really afraid because I respect too much him.’

The former Valencia boss has revealed his inspiration to improve as a coach is his aunt, who was a showgirl

But Flores flourished out of this fear, went on to play alongside Raul, Clarence Seedorf and Roberto Carlos in a two-year spell in Madrid and remembers fondly the aspects which stood out most prominently from the footballing legend who died last year.

‘Ooof,’ Flores said, when asked what they were, the sound emphasising the passion with which he recalls the man. ‘He had personality, experience, the smell of football, character. My father, who was playing for five years with Alfredo in Real Madrid, said, “He was the best player I saw in my life.” When I was managing in Benfica, I shared a lot of time with Eusebio, who would come along before matches.

‘I asked him, “Eusebio, who was the best player you saw in your life?” He said: “Alfredo Di Stefano”.’

Flores has been shaped by giants of the game but when his Watford team demonstrate a flash of flair, remember that a flamenco dancer aunt — named Lola — is at its heart.