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Josema Gimenez: I put my embarrassment aside and said, ‘I want to learn’
Jose Maria Gimenez, one of Uruguay’s leading footballers of the past decade, made a life-changing decision: to overcome his fears and complete his secondary education. Through Bachillerato Trayectos, an educational programme run by the Uruguayan player union (MUFP) to help footballers finish their studies, the centre-back is studying remotely from Spain.
In an interview for MUFP’s social media channels, Josema discussed his educational journey, his recent ADHD diagnosis, the importance of preparing for life after football and his desire to set an example for his children. Below is an edited transcript of the interview.
I went to School No. 176 in San Andres, Toledo, and most of my memories are of break times. Looking back now, it was a lovely time.
Our school was quite modest, and so were our school trips. Two years ago, I visited the Artigas mausoleum [dedicated to Uruguay’s national hero Jose Gervasio Artigas] for the first time. I was in Montevideo on holiday and asked my wife to come with me and our children. When she saw how surprised I was, she said: “But this is the sort of place you visit on a school trip.” I told her: “I never went on one.”
It was moving to go inside because it was somewhere people had always talked about, but I’d never been able to visit. I enjoyed it and took some photos. Our school trips were usually to plant nurseries to learn about plants, but always within Toledo.
I have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which was diagnosed quite recently. Everything was much harder for me, especially managing my behaviour. Academically, I always did relatively well, but my behaviour was my downfall. I feel sorry for the teachers who had to put up with me! I apologise to them because I was a child whose mind was racing at a thousand miles an hour.
I remember Miss Mariela giving me two exercise books: one for the classwork she wrote on the blackboard and another for extra work. I’d finish one, hand it in for her to mark and get straight on with the next. That was more or less how I managed to keep up.
My son also has ADHD. We were diagnosed at the same time, and he’s eight years old. When people tell me it’s hereditary, I start crying, particularly because I spent eight years not understanding him. I used to think he wasn’t listening or didn’t care. I’d say: “Come on, I’m talking to you. Show some respect. Don’t act like that.”
The reality is that this is simply how his mind works. When I explained it to him, I said: “You’re special, just like Dad. We have to take a pill every morning and try to concentrate and stay calm.” That’s one way of supporting him, you see?
Liceo de Toledo is a relatively small secondary school. The first three years have lessons in the morning, while the fourth, fifth and sixth years have lessons in the afternoon or evening. Until the third year, everything was fine. I got through without any problems. Things became more complicated in the fourth year because I was training in the afternoons at Danubio.
So I moved to Damaso. I’d get up at six in the morning and start lessons at eight. Afterwards, I’d walk from the school to Danubio’s headquarters. The club had arranged for me to have lunch there. I’d stay for a while, then train in Malvin at three or four in the afternoon.
I’d try to catch the bus from Danubio’s youth academy as quickly as possible. If I missed it, I wouldn’t get home until nine in the evening. It was exhausting. Halfway through the year, I started switching off the alarm and going back to sleep.
I was completely worn out. I couldn’t keep going and didn’t feel like myself. I’d go straight to bed without eating dinner. The daily routine had become too much, and I had to give up my studies. If Liceo de Toledo had offered morning lessons in the fourth, fifth and sixth years, I probably would have finished. By then, I was already 17.
My sister became pregnant, and I decided to give up football and get a job. I needed to help my family financially. Having a baby isn’t easy. Thankfully, we had food on the table every day, but we certainly weren’t well off.
I called my agent, who was also a friend, and said: “I need to talk to you. I have to give up football. My sister’s pregnant, and it’s a decision I have to make.”
They came to my house, sat down with me and said: “No, you’re not giving up football. We’re going to help you.” Of course, I thanked them. I carried on playing, but from then on I didn’t focus on my studies. That’s the reality.
Later, I signed a contract with Danubio, and our situation changed.
I’m now taking part in MUFP’s programme to complete my secondary education so I can go on to study for a degree. The truth is, I put my embarrassment aside and said: “I want to learn. I want to earn it.”
At first, I was a little shy and nervous, and didn’t want to speak. My classmates have since made me feel much more comfortable. I’m more relaxed in class now and able to take part. If you can’t attend for any reason, they send you the homework.
They’ve made it much easier to do something that might not have been possible before. Previously, I had to call my old secondary school, ask which subjects I needed to complete and arrange to sit exams independently. I can’t remember exactly how it worked, but I decided against it.
When this opportunity came up, I heard about it through MUFP President Diego Scotti and asked him whether I could take part. They said they were just finalising a group, and that was when the door to learning opened for me.
Let me tell you about something that happened: we played Arsenal in London in the group stage. The journey from the stadium to the airport took about an hour and a half, and it coincided with a class. I said: “I’ll log on, but I won’t turn on my camera because I’m on the bus.” I listened to the lesson on the way to the airport.
I remember we were studying Spanish and reading a story about a dog. The teacher asked me to read it.
Another time, we played at home. I think it was against Inter. After the match, I had a shower and headed home. I also had recovery work to do. I joined the class from the car, listening without looking at the screen. When I got home, I switched to the computer, watched the class and took part before going to bed.
It takes sacrifice, but I believe every effort is worthwhile. Studying gives you knowledge, but it also builds your willpower and gives you the satisfaction of knowing you’ve achieved something through your own effort. For me, the challenge might be my schedule. For someone else, it might be finishing work, going home and logging on.
When you say, “I’ve got nothing to lose and a lot to gain”, you’re saying it’s worth making the effort.
We played Arsenal in London in the group stage. The journey from the stadium to the airport took about an hour and a half, and it coincided with a class. I listened to the lesson on the way to the airport.
Studying helps you in football and everyday life. It helps you make better decisions on the pitch, assess situations, think more clearly and reason better, both on and off the pitch. I think that’s being overlooked, especially when teenagers rely so heavily on agents.
I’m not against agents by any means, but I see children aged 11 or 12 whose parents are asked to sign contracts on their behalf. They’re still children. They need time to mature.
Studying will help you as an adult, too. You might do well in football and earn money, but what do you do with it? What do you focus on? You can’t make a living from playing football forever.
Imagine it: your final match is over, and you’ve retired. On Monday, you enjoy yourself: “I’ve retired. I’m going for a walk.” On Tuesday, it’s the same as yesterday. Then Wednesday comes. What are you going to do the following Monday?
Other people carry on with their lives. A friend with another job will keep going to work. What am I going to do? I’d love to earn my qualification and come here with my children to graduate.
Above all, I want to set an example for them. Often, when they’re going to bed, they ask:
“Dad, are you going to bed?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
"Because I’m studying.”
With the time difference, I’m studying at midnight in Spain. My son asks: “Dad, why do you want to study at your age?”
It’s never too late to study. It’s never too late to graduate, fulfil your dream and say: “I did it. I’ve graduated.”