Adelaide United will have an ever greater Barcelona influence this season with former great Guillermo Amor appointed as the club’s new technical director.
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.
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.”
“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.”
