“He won me over with his sincerity and enthusiasm,” proclaimed president of Adelaide United Greg Griffin, in reference to revolutionary coach of the league, Josep Gombau.
Here is the translated version of an article about Josep Gombau and Adelaide United from the Sport.es newspaper in Spain.
“He won me over with his sincerity and enthusiasm,” proclaimed president of Adelaide United Greg Griffin, in reference to revolutionary coach of the league, Josep Gombau.
Josep Gombau did not win the league with Adelaide United but got something perhaps of greater importance. With its modest squad and results, South Australia stood up to the bigger states, his character won over the football club and he became an envied coach.
“Sydney and Melbourne wanted to sign him,” says club president Greg Griffin, who has traveled to Spain with his coach with the aim of establishing collaboration with La Liga, and for a first division club to play in Adelaide, as the lawyer admits he extremely enjoys football.
The Catalan coach admits the president won him over from the first moment they exchanged a few words. “I liked his sincerity and enthusiasm”, says Griffin while Gombau admits he warned Griffin of his long-term plan. “The first thing I said was that if you wanted immediate results seek another coach and second was that I did not want to win games until Christmas”. At his side, the president smiles as he re lives the conversation.
“We have been very fortunate. We believed in what he offered, and now not only believe in, but I know I was right. The other teams look at us with envy,” proclaims Griffin, while the coach agrees to the work ahead at all levels.
With his assistant Pau Martí the club has become a family. The players, who wanted to go before are now looking to renew contracts.” I have my feet on the ground, I feel lucky and very happy, and I recognise that having renewed my contract for three years was because this gentleman (pointing to Griffin). He has given us all the freedom and comfort, and that is worth more than money.
Now, his wife Romina is by his side working to form a grassroots program in a likeness to Barca. “It is another challenge that we have set, to form the club from the bottom,” says the coach. President Griffin is convinced by his words and smiles and says; “they will, of course succeed in this, like everything they have proposed.”
