Global Fútbol

Deportivo Alavés have partnered with LaLiga Football Schools India, LaLiga's grassroots football development project, to collaborate with one of the project's centres: the St Joseph's centre in Bandra, Maharashtra. This alliance will involve the Vitoria club in the administration of this football programme which, among other activities, provides technical and sporting training to youngsters and coaches.

The partnership was recently established through a tournament, which continued with a fun party at the sporting complex, as part of an engagement initiative for the participants. The tournament involved 48 young hopefuls, divided into three divisions according to age (U-10, U-14 and U-16). Deportivo Alavés provided kits to all participating players and, at the end of the competition, the players received club merchandise. This event marks the beginning of training initiatives and programmes organised by Deportivo Alavés.

Miguel Casal Bouzón, Technical Director of the LaLiga football schools in India, said: “With this partnership, Deportivo Alavés will become the latest LaLiga club to enter India aiming to develop players both on and off the pitch. This association serves a fantastic opportunity for young aspirants to understand the technical aspect of the sport such as tactics, mental strength, fitness, and agility and prepare them to represent their respective teams.”

Jose Antonio Cachaza, Managing Director of LaLiga India, commented: “We specifically want to foster the never-give-up mentality of Deportivo Alavés in the young Indian football players. Deportivo Alavés is home to some of the most technically proficient coaching staff, who exude the rich DNA of Spanish football. Due to our shared enthusiasm for developing the beautiful game and the appetite we see this country having for it, they are the perfect partners for the LaLiga Football Schools programme.”

The Deportivo Alavés International Academy Director Fernando Iriarte said: “India is one of the biggest markets for any sporting institution, and we are delighted to partner with LaLiga Football Schools India. We look forward to using our expertise to help young athletes improve their sporting knowledge and skills. We hope that, with our efforts, we will be successful in helping young footballers move closer to their dream of playing professional football and also create awareness around our club and strengthen our fanbase in the territory.”

Deportivo Alavés is a Spanish football club that was established on January 23rd, 1921, in Vitoria-Gasteiz (Álava, Basque Country) and has been representing the historical territory of Álava-Araba through football for 101 years. Although it originally responded to the name of Sport Friend's Club (its beginnings date back to July 1920), it was in January 1921 when it came to bear the name by which it is known today: Deportivo Alavés.

The impact of LaLiga Football Schools

LaLiga Football Schools kicked off in 2018 in India and has since reached more than 10,000 participants in the country. The programme, which is developed and managed by UEFA Pro-licensed Spanish coaches, provides access to the LaLiga grassroots methodology, the club's global grassroots football initiative, and technical training to students aged between nine and 15 in around 40 centres in 14 cities across India, including Dehli, Bangalore and Mumbai.

In addition, the programme is also designed to have a deeper impact at grassroots level through the training of Indian football coaches and programme educators. So far, around 700 local coaches have been trained, of which 50 have been actively involved in the project in different locations.