Luis Arregui - Real Madrid C.F. - Deputy Grounds Manager
At just 26, Luis Arregui has already built an impressive career in sports turf management, combining his passions for nature and sport with an incredible work ethic. A forestry engineer by trade, Luis discovered his vocation as a groundsperson four years ago and has since devoted his career to maintaining the world-class pitches of Real Madrid C.F.
Luis began his journey in June 2020 as an apprentice, learning the essentials of the trade through hands-on experience in mowing, line marking, turf repair and matchday preparations. His ability to adapt quickly earned him opportunities at both the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and Real Madrid City. Over two years at the stadium, he played a role in the groundbreaking greenhouse project, ensuring the pitch was ready for iconic fixtures such as Champions League semi-finals and El Clásico. His work at Real Madrid City further broadened his expertise, from daily training surfaces to large-scale renovations and agronomic trials in the laboratory.
Progressing from subcontractor to being directly employed by Real Madrid is a source of personal pride for Luis. Most recently, he has overseen the women’s team pitches, a challenging role that sharpened his skills and leadership within a high-performance environment.
His achievements also include six years of dedicated study to qualify as a forestry engineer, a journey that demanded sacrifice, and participation in the GMA’s NextGen initiative, where he now serves as an ambassador. As one of the youngest in his club’s team, he embraces new machinery, products and ideas, whilst still ensuring a strong team spirit - something he believes is fundamental to success in grounds management.
Challenges, from balancing work and study to maintaining turf during stadium redevelopment, have shaped his resilience. Each obstacle has strengthened his belief in anticipating problems and reacting calmly under pressure.
Looking ahead, Luis hopes to expand his knowledge through further study and by experiencing turf management practices worldwide. His long-term ambition is to play a role in iconic sporting events and inspire the next generation of young groundspeople. Passionate about continuous learning and advancing the profession, Luis is committed not only to developing himself, but also to building a sustainable and innovative future for the industry.
For several years, Luis has been an integral part of Real Madrid's Pitch Department. I've had the direct opportunity to work alongside him daily during the 2023/2024 season as part of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium maintenance team, where he served as a groundsman. During this period, Luis demonstrated a solid understanding of the operations involved in maintaining high-performance sports surfaces. He participated in the management of the hybrid turf, coordinated nutritional calendars, controlled irrigation, and expertly operated specialized machinery (mowers, aerators, scarifiers). He also collaborated in overseeing the new LED lighting system for the hypogeum's indoor turf maintenance. All this experience enabled him to confidently handle highly demanding events such as LaLiga matches, UEFA Champions League games, and international fixtures, proving that his age has not been a barrier to assuming significant responsibility. What I value most about Luis is his commitment, his constructive attitude, and his ability to independently take on complex tasks. He is a proactive individual with a great willingness to adapt to new technical and operational challenges across different facilities. His presence is a valuable asset, both for his professional competence and for the trust he inspires within the team. I am convinced that he will be an excellent candidate for this initiative, and we at Real Madrid are proud to have him on our team."
Adrián Romero, Head Groundsman at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium – Real Madrid
