Canadian entrepreneur Steve Nijjar took on the challenge of reviving the Racing Madrid soccer club, which was previously inactive and devoid of players, fans, and a stadium. Reflecting on the club's inception, Nijjar stated, "We had zero," highlighting the daunting task ahead of him.
Since then, significant progress has been made. In May, Racing Madrid achieved promotion to the Spanish fifth-tier league during Nijjar's third season in charge. However, he views this achievement as part of his second season, given that the first year was primarily focused on re-establishing the club. "We’d just brought the club back to life," he explained.
For Nijjar, the journey is just beginning. The former goalkeeper, who also has diverse experiences as a coach, boxer, gym owner, bodyguard, actor, and movie producer, has set his sights on reaching La Liga, Spain's premier soccer league known for teams like Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, and Barcelona. Before aspiring for such heights, Nijjar recognizes the challenges that come with competing in the fifth tier of Spanish soccer.
"It’s a different level," he acknowledged, mentioning that Racing Madrid will face formidable opponents such as reserve teams from Leganés and Atletico Madrid, as well as Rayo Vallecano's C team. In preparation for these challenges, Nijjar is planning a roster upgrade, only intending to retain four or five players from the previous season while bringing in a host of new talent.
Nijjar's journey started when he traveled to Madrid to support his youngest son, Tejpal, who is a goalkeeper at Rayo Vallecano's academy. His connection to soccer deepened when his son’s advisor, Morris Pagniello, an Italian-Australian FIFA agent, introduced him to Racing Murcia. Nijjar initially became the president of Murcia but later stepped down due to logistical constraints, keeping an ownership stake and remaining open to other local ventures.
Founded in 1914, Racing Madrid ceased operations in 1932. Its revival occurred when Nijjar and Pagniello purchased the sixth-tier Cenafe Club and rebranded it as Racing Madrid, unaware of the previous incarnation of the club. The team is now preparing for its new chapter, relocating to a city stadium in Alcobendas, a suburb of Madrid. Nijjar aims to draw between 3,000 to 4,000 fans per game when the season kicks off in late August.
In addition to team aspirations, Nijjar is looking to forge partnerships with established La Liga clubs to facilitate talent sharing and is also planning to initiate a residency program for players aged 13 and older. "I’m very pleased with the progress," Nijjar remarked about the club's developments. "It’s not been easy but it’s exactly what I wanted to do, and we’ll continue our journey."
Nijjar's life and experiences have been captured in a documentary titled "Anatomy of a Warrior: The Steve Nijjar Story," released in 2021. Currently, he is working on a documentary series focused on Racing Madrid, named "Racing to Madrid."
