Josep Gombau

Josep Gombau Balague (born 5 June 1976) is a Spanish football manager who is currently the head coach and sporting director for Queensboro FC in the USL Championship. He is a former FC Barcelona youth team coach and has held multiple positions at Barcelona academies.[1] Gombau holds the highest coaching licence in Spain with the equivalent of the UEFA Pro Diploma attained at the Catalan Football Federation.[2]

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Gombau and the second or maternal family name is Balague.
Josep Gombau
Personal information
Full name Josep Gombau Balague
Date of birth (1976-06-05) 5 June 1976
Place of birth Amposta, Spain
Club information
Current team
 Queensboro FC
Youth career
Years Team
1982–1992 Amposta
Teams managed
Years Team
1993–1999 Amposta
1999–2003 Espanyol (youth)
2003–2009 Barcelona (youth)
2009–2013 Kitchee
2013–2015 Adelaide United
2016–2017 Australia U-23
2016–2017 Australia (assistant)
2017–2018 Western Sydney Wanderers
2018–2019 Delhi Dynamos
2019–2020 Odisha FC
2020– Queensboro FC

Career

Born in Amposta, Tarragona, Catalonia, Gombau was a goalkeeper, but switched to coaching at the age of 16.[3][4] After coaching youth teams in CF Amposta and RCD Espanyol, he was signed by FC Barcelona in 2003 as a youth academy coach.[5][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.[2] 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.[13] Gombau stated that he wants to implement a possession-based football style at Adelaide.[14][15] Gombau actively exercised his ambition to develop South Australian grassroots football by hosting free seminars for local coaches.[16] Gombau's United won the inaugural FFA Cup by defeating Perth Glory 1–0.[17] Gombau left the club in July 2015 to take up a youth coaching role in the United States.[18]

Australia U-23

Known as a developer of talent, on 28 June 2016, Gombau was appointed as head coach of Australia U-23 in place of Aurelio Vidmar, under whom the team failed to qualify for the Olympics.[19]

Western Sydney Wanderers

On 1 November 2017, Gombau was assigned as head coach of Western Sydney Wanderers following the departure of Tony Popovic at the beginning of the season and Hayden Foxe acting as interim coach in the first four rounds.[20] After just six months in charge, 19 April 2018, the club announced they had terminated Gombau's contract after failing to qualify for the 17-18 A-League Finals Series.[21]

Delhi Dynamos FC

On 1 August 2018, Gombau was appointed as head coach of Delhi Dynamos following the departure of Miguel Ángel Portugal, under whom the team failed to qualify for the ISL Playoffs. Under Gombau team is not qualified for playoffs and placed eighth in the points table but the performance of the team improved and Gombau extended his contract and the club changed its base from Delhi to Odisha and Kalinga Stadium as home ground because of the high operational cost and low attendance in the stadium and he stayed with the rebranded team.

Odisha FC

Gombau was extended his contract to the rebranded club Odisha FC (previously Delhi Dynamos) and they brought some players and extended some old players and they became finished sixth in the table and not qualified for the playoffs. The club and Josep Gombau have amicably parted ways due to the coach's familial obligations. . Club President Mr. Rohan Sharma said, "Some things in life are more important than football. I'd like to thank Coach Gombau and his coaching staff from the bottom of my heart for all that they have done for the club. The whole coaching staff was such a positive influence for the club. No matter where they all go in life they will always have a home in Odisha! . Josep expressed, "It wasn't an easy decision to make. I have enjoyed my time at Odisha and I am proud of what I built there. It is with some regret that I can't finish what I started, but I will always be rooting for the success of Odisha FC." Josep had joined Odisha FC (earlier Delhi Dynamos) ahead of the fifth season in 2018. He continued for the second consecutive season in 2019-20 and took OFC close to the playoffs spot[22].

Queensboro FC

In July 2020, Gombau was announced as the first-ever head coach and sporting director for David Villa's USL Championship club Queensboro FC.[23]

Personal life

Gombau is married, his wife name is Romania Gombau[24] and has two daughters: Bruna and Maria. [25]

Honours

Club

Kitchee SC

Adelaide United

Personal

Managerial statistics
As of 23 February 2020
Team Nat From To Record
GWDLWin %
Kitchee SC 2009 2013 93 57 18 18 061.29
Adelaide United 2013 2015 62 30 12 20 048.39
Western Sydney Wanderers 2017 2018 22 7 5 10 031.82
Delhi Dynamos / Odisha 2018 2020 40 11 12 17 027.50
Total 201 99 44 58 049.25
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References
  1. Kin Cheung (27 May 2011). Kitchee's head coach Josep Gombau Balague, former coaching staff at the FC Barcelona soccer team, leaves after the first half of the Japan earthquake – photo. Eurosport.com (Photograph). Hong Kong. Associated Press. Kitchee's head coach Josep Gombau Balague, former coaching staff at the FC Barcelona soccer team, leaves after the first half of the Japan Earthquake Relief Charity match Spanish's soccer team Villarreal against Hong Kong's local team Kitchee in Hong Kong Friday, May 27, 2011. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
  2. "Gombau to coach Adelaide United FC". Adelaide United Football Club. 30 April 2013. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  3. Kemp, Emma (9 October 2013). "Josep Gombau's tiki-taka touch wins Adelaide United over". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  4. Gombau, Josep (13 August 2013). "Gombau chats to TWG". The World Game (Interview). Interviewed by Vitor Sobral. Archived from the original on 24 July 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  5. Blanco, Jordi (24 October 2013). "Tiqui-taca en Australia". am14.net (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  6. Migliaccio, Val (18 July 2013). "Adelaide United coach Josep Gombau vows to scout for SA's best talent". The Advertiser. Adelaide. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  7. Gombau, Josep (4 November 2017). "In the presence of Cruyff". PlayersVoice. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  8. Alvares, Rohan (5 February 2009). "A touch of Barcelona magic in Dubai". Gulf News. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  9. Brooks, Rob (7 May 2013). "Gombau bringing Barca Down Under". ESPN FC. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  10. 巴塞名帥來港發展 Oriental Daily. 21 April 2009.
  11. Chan Kin-wa (27 May 2013). "Play-off win perfect gift for departing Gombau". South China Morning Post. Hong Kong.
  12. Mehrotra, Abhishek (24 April 2012). "Stags, Kitchee expect open AFC Cup match". Fox Sports Asia. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  13. "Adelaide United stars laud style new coach Josep Gombau's style, just don't call them Barcelona". news.com.au. 2 October 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  14. Migliaccio, Val (4 May 2013). "New Adelaide United coach Josep Gombau promises to bring a little bit of Barcelona to the Reds". Fox Sports Australia. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  15. Earle, Richard (7 August 2013). "It's my way or the highway, new Reds coach Josep Gombau tells players". Herald Sun. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  16. "Local coaches impressed with Gombau's vision". Adelaide United Football Club. 21 January 2014. Archived from the original on 26 March 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  17. Maasdorp, James (16 December 2014). "Adelaide United beats Perth Glory to win FFA Cup with 1–0 victory in inaugural final". ABC Grandstand Sport. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  18. Hassett, Sebastian (24 July 2015). "Adelaide United coach Josep Gombau departs to begin academy in New York". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  19. "Josep Gombau returns to Australia as new Olyroos coach". The Guardian. 28 June 2016.
  20. "Josep Gombau becomes Wanderers coach". FourFourTwo. 1 November 2017.
  21. "Western Sydney Wanderers sack Josep Gombau". Fox Sports. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  22. "ISL club Odisha FC part ways with Josep Gombau due to coach's family obligations". Firstpost. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  23. "Queensboro FC Appoints Josep Gombau as Head Coach, Sporting Director". USLChampionship.com. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  24. "New addition to Gombau family". Adelaide United. 9 July 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  25. Earle, Richard. "Former Adelaide United coach Josep Gombau to take charge of Australia's Olyroos". The Advertiser. News Corporation. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
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