Former FC Barcelona academy mentor Josep Gombau has been appointed Adelaide United coach for the next two seasons.
The Spanish-born Gombau will begin with the Reds in July once his commitments with Hong Kong first division champions Kitchee SC are concluded with his current assistant Pau Marti, who will be joining the coaching staff alongside current Reds assistant Michael Valkanis.
Gombau said he was keen to join the A-League to coach a top club and bring them to finals contention once more.
“I want to come to Adelaide because Australia has one of the most successful leagues in Asia at this moment”
“I see it as a very good chance to grow in my coaching and I hope the club and I together can make something nice by becoming champions in the A-League.”
Pau Marti will join the coaching staff alongside Michael Valkanis as an assistant.
The Club’s general manager Michael Petrillo says it agreed to take him on after Gombau spoke so highly of him.
“Josep was very keen to have (new Reds assistant) Pau Marti with him and the board accepted that his role is also crucial in the implementation of the football philosophy and methodology through both the senior and youth teams at the club. We’re delighted to have Pau join the coaching staff.”
Marti has been an assistant coach to Kitchee SC in Hong Kong and Barcelona FC.
Gombau began with various youth teams in Spain including CF Amposta and RCE Espanyol, which led to him gaining a role as an academy coach at arguably the world’s leading youth development club, FC Barcelona, in 2003.
He spent the next six years working as an Academy coach at the Catalan giants and was the technical director of the FCB Escola in Barcelona, Dubai and Hong Kong.
