Josep Gombau
Josep Gombau Balague (born 5 June 1976) is a Spanish football manager in charge of A-League club Adelaide United.[1] He is a former FC Barcelona youth team coach and has held multiple positions at Barcelona academies.[2] Gombau holds the highest coaching license in Spain with the equivalent of the UEFA Pro Diploma attained at the Catalan Football Federation.[3]
Career
Born in Amposta, Tarragona, Catalonia, Gombau was a goalkeeper, but switched to coaching at the age of 16.[4][5] After coaching youth teams in CF Amposta and RCD Espanyol, he was signed by FC Barcelona in 2003 as a youth academy coach.[6][7] In 2008, he became the technical director of FCB Escola, a Barcelona youth football academy opened at the Raffles International School in Jumeirah, Dubai.[8][9]
Kitchee
Gombau moved to Hong Kong to join Kitchee as the club's head coach in 2009.[10] Under Gombau, Kitchee won two league titles, two FA Cups and one League Cup.[11] Before the 2012 AFC Cup away match to Tampines Rovers, Kitchee captain Chu Siu Kei applauded the contribution of Gombau to the team, saying: "The coach understands that the players might be smaller than those in the other teams, but using the ball more on the ground gives us an advantage over our opponents. We have more control of the game now".[12]
Adelaide United
On 30 April 2013, it was announced that Gombau would leave Kitchee to coach Adelaide United in the A-League. He signed a two-season deal, arriving at the club in July 2013.[13] His first two signings were compatriots and Barcelona youth products Sergio Cirio and Isaías Sánchez. Gombau also brought his long-time assistant coach Pau Marti to work alongside existing assistant coach Michael Valkanis.[14] Gombau stated that he wants to implement a possession-based football style at Adelaide.[15][16][17] Gombau actively exercised his ambition to develop South Australian grassroots football by hosting free seminars for local coaches.[18] Gombau's United won the inaugural FFA Cup with a 1-0 win against Perth Glory. [19]
Honours
Club
Kitchee SC
Adelaide United
Personal
Managerial statistics
- As of 23 February 2015
| Team |
Nat |
From |
To |
Record |
| G | W | D | L | Win % |
| Kitchee SC |
|
2009 |
2013 |
7001930000000000000♠93 |
7001570000000000000♠57 |
7001180000000000000♠18 |
7001180000000000000♠18 |
7001612900000000000♠61.29 |
| Adelaide United |
|
2013 |
Present |
7001600000000000000♠60 |
7001290000000000000♠29 |
7001120000000000000♠12 |
7001190000000000000♠19 |
7001483300000000000♠48.33 |
| Total |
7002153000000000000♠153 |
7001860000000000000♠86 |
7001300000000000000♠30 |
7001370000000000000♠37 |
7001562100000000000♠56.21 |
References
External links
