Just a few months ago, he was still sitting in lecture halls at the Faculty of Arts. After completing both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in history, he even briefly worked as a consultant—but now, on weekends, he stands pitch-side at Real Madrid. Alumnus Stefan de Baar has made a remarkable career switch.

He has already seen coaches Álvaro Arbeloa and Xabi Alonso and starplayers like Vinícius Júnior up close, and he is sometimes asked on Real Madrid’s TV show to analyze opponents. The Radboud University alumnus is doing an internship at the biggest football club in the world, where he has already become a familiar face.

Yet De Baar stays humble. ‘I live in a student room in Madrid,’ he says via video call. ‘It’s a half-hour walk to the Santiago Bernabéu, Real Madrid’s stadium, or just two metro stops.’

De Baar’s internship is in sports journalism and communication at the club’s official academy. The private program is not cheap. “I always worked alongside my studies and had built up some savings, which I’ve now fully invested in this adventure. I also had to find my own accommodation. The housing market in Spain is difficult, so that was quite a challenge.”

Firefighter

De Baar is originally from Zevenaar, where he also lived during his bachelor’s and master’s in History at Radboud University (2020–2025). ‘The commute to Nijmegen was very manageable—about an hour in total. Plus, finding a room in Nijmegen was very difficult.’

He looks back fondly on his time in Nijmegen. ‘The bachelor’s was enjoyable, but I truly thrived during the master’s. The lecturers knew how to inspire us, and we were given a lot of freedom. We could choose thematic courses, and when making decisions about my thesis (on the representation of Muslim women on television), I was given a lot of independence. That gave me confidence. Friends who had studied elsewhere said that was quite unique. And of course, I developed my research skills during the master’s. Radboud University definitely helped me find my own path.’

That path turned out to be unusual. After graduating, De Baar initially entered consultancy. ‘You might not expect it after studying history, but I’ve worked my whole life, starting in hospitality. When I only had one course left to complete in a year, I decided to work full-time. I ended up at a large insurance company, probably because I had experience in logistics, service, and account management. I was already a kind of ‘firefighter,’ jumping in wherever needed, even before I started there.’

City derby

However, working behind a desk began to bother him. Although there were enjoyable aspects to his job, he didn’t see a long-term future in the sector. ‘During my time at Radboud University, I also looked for internships in the sports world, but that was difficult without a background in communication. Then I came across the website of Real Madrid’s official academy. They offer various programs in the football world, and I was immediately interested. Big clubs in other countries have similar programs, but Real Madrid focuses heavily on practical experience. That really appealed to me.’

He requested more information and was helped quickly, but initially there was no place available—until he suddenly received a message that an American student could no longer participate due to visa issues. ‘They asked if I wanted to take his place.’

Two weeks after that call, De Baar was in a classroom in Madrid—and immediately got hands-on experience. ‘At Real Madrid press conferences, I work on production for the English-language TV channel. We also produce news, I provide commentary on training sessions, and I translate press conferences. I’ve seen coach Álvaro Arbeloa and former coach Xabi Alonso up close, as well as star player Vinícius Júnior. It’s incredible.’

Sometimes De Baar even stands pitch-side, such as during the city derby against Atlético Madrid. ‘An absolute highlight.’ The students also traveled to Italy and to the FIFA to see how major clubs structure their communication departments. ‘In addition, I work with other teams representing Real Madrid, such as the women’s team, the basketball team, and Real Madrid Castilla, the second team.’

From Zevenaar to Madrid

They didn’t exaggerate in the brochure—the program is very practical. We’re taught by professionals who all hold impressive positions in the media world. One of my lecturers was presenting a TV program alongside Steven Gerrard, Liverpool icon and coach, at a recent match. That’s not just impressive, it also opens doors. Networking is important. Fortunately, I’ve always been good at talking to people; I already had that when I started working in hospitality at fifteen.’

‘A practical program like this also helps clarify what I’m good at: storytelling. Whether it’s speaking or writing, on film or on paper—it’s my passion to convey the stories surrounding top-level sports to the public.’

And so De Baar has suddenly become a familiar face at the biggest football club in the world. Sometimes he’s even invited onto Real Madrid’s TV show to analyze opponents. ‘Thanks to this program, I’ve learned how to present myself on camera,’ says De Baar.

Future plans

‘Maybe it’s all about seizing opportunities,’ he reflects. ‘I was looking for adventure and saw this opportunity come by. Then you have to go all in. I think that’s been a major life lesson: stepping out of your comfort zone and fully committing to something. That way, you’re more likely to end up in the right place at the right time.’

In addition to covering top-level football in Madrid, De Baar also attends smaller sporting events. ‘As a sports enthusiast and freelance journalist, I’m always looking for stories. Recently, I interviewed Quoc An Nguyen, a legend in jiu-jitsu. He had colon cancer, which made for a powerful and unexpected story. By telling stories like that, you can make a difference in people’s lives. That really appeals to me.’

“And during the Madrid Open, the major tennis tournament, I struck up a conversation with someone wearing an accreditation badge. Seemed useful to have. Turned out to be the father of Tallon Griekspoor, the Dutch top tennis player competing there.”

Ordinary people

And what might one of those exciting future roles look like? Could he return to consultancy? ‘You should never rule anything out, and I do find the communication side of consultancy interesting. But I’ve learned that my passion lies in journalism and storytelling. So I want to stay active in sports journalism.’

‘Sport opens doors—not just professionally for me, but in the lives of many people. Even during my bachelor’s and master’s at Radboud University, I researched ordinary people—but top athletes are just ordinary people too. Even Real Madrid players.’

De Baar’s dream internship will end in July. His final project is a documentary about Nordic combined, a sport that is still only accessible to men at the Olympic Games. ‘We’re following Annika Malacinski as she prepares for the World Championships. We visited her in Oslo—that was an amazing experience as well.’