Adelaide United FC is pleased to confirm that Spanish Football legend and Barcelona great, Guillermo Amor will be the clubs Technical Director.
Guillermo, who arrived in Adelaide early July, is the highest-profile sports star in South Australia at the moment.
Since his arrival he has been observing trainings, and providing advice so that the club and players can technically improve on what Josep Gombau instigated last season – which also included the Reds’ match against Málaga CF, the FOXTEL All Stars v Juventus and the most recent trip to the Northern Territory.
Guillermo who played more then 300 games for FC Barcelona and was capped 37 times for Spain during the 1990s, highlights include representing his country during the World Cup in 1998 and the European Championship in 1996.
Guillermo was one of the first players to go through all the teams at Barcelona, from youth development to playing first team. Guillermo returned to Barcelona after completing his professional career and claiming a UEFA Pro Licence, “to be appointed the Director of the Youth was a very amazing thing because it was familiar to me. It was where I started at the age of 11 and therefore when I finished my playing career I went back to youth development because it’s my passion.”
As the FC Barcelona Technical Director of Youth Football, Guillermo stressed the importance of maintaining a particular style of play and the philosophy throughout the clubs ranks.
“Youth football, as we have been managing it in recent years, must carry on in the same line, methodology, style and philosophy. We have to maintain this because it’s what has given us, and will give us, success.”
Amor shares the same passion as Gombau for developing young local players, stating that “when you give local players the chance, they respond and defend their team to the end.”
He has a very passionate love for Barcelona and the style of play it prompts once professing that “Barcelona… I am in the club of my heart.”
Now with being appointed as the Reds’ Technical Director, he has a slightly different outlook. His focus is to provide leadership, coaching, strategic, tactical and technical direction to the entire Club while also being another assistant coach to Josep Gombau.
Amor, who has agreed to a one-year contract, grabbed the opportunity of being able to work with a club that is adopting a similar style that he is used to.
“I have came here to learn and experience this kind of Club, but also bring experience to improve the football department and the club, with the objective to work together with the coaches and football department to bring the best for the Club,” said Amor.
“From what I have seen, it is not a big difference between us and what Barcelona are doing. It is something similar and something I am use to. But I have liked what I’ve seen so far. The team is playing well but they can play better.
“And what I have seen with the youth, they are working very similar with what the seniors are doing. Michael (Valkanis) is working with us day by day, and the games I have seen, they play very similar and have good players with good potential.”
Head Coach Josep Gombau, who worked with Guillermo at FC Barcelona, welcomed this new appointment.
“It is great for me as we get to work again together. We worked in the Barcelona academy back in 2003. He was the Technical Director of Youth Football and I was one of the coaches,” said Gombau.
“He can bring a lot of experience and knowledge to our Club and he will also assist Valkanis with the youth team.
“The challenge is that in 2-3 years time to have a lot more South Australians playing the style we want to play. We want to develop this young local talent as they are the future of our club.
“He has lot of experience, he played many years with FC Barcelona. He also worked with Johan Cruyff who is the father of this style. He will bring a lot to us – it’s a big value to have him.”
Guillermo Amor, who will now become a household name for all Reds and football fans in Australia, has plans to make Adelaide United a powerhouse in the Hyundai A-League and the youth sector. In doing so, he will help set the direction and philosophy of the Club and all other teams the Reds have.
To have a legend of football now with Adelaide United FC highlights that the club is doing the right thing to attract the best football talent within the coaching ranks at the club and is clearly moving in the right direction.
