Ex-Barcelona Youth Academy Head Josep Gombau Returns As Odisha FC Coach

Bhubaneswar: Spaniard Josep Gombau has returned as Odisha FC head coach.

Gombau agreed to a two-year deal, the Bhubaneswar-based ISL club announced on Wednesday.

Gombau had assumed charge of the Juggernauts ahead of the 2018-19 season. The following season, Odisha FC came close to qualifying for the play-off stage under Gombau, finishing sixth in the standings.

Gombau took to coaching at a young age, and worked with CF Amposta and RCD Espanyol youth teams before being signed by FC Barcelona as a youth academy coach in 2003.

He became technical director of FCB Escola, a Barcelona youth football academy opened at the Raffles International School in Jumeirah, Dubai, in 2008.

After spending six seasons with youth teams in Barcelona, training future English Premier League players like Adama Traore, Hector Bellerin and Keita Balde, Gombau took charge of Kitchee in Hong Kong in 2009.

He guided Kitchee to the league titles in 2011 and 2012, doing the domestic treble of league, FA Cup, and League Cup.