Elite coaching instructor and game development expert from Barcelona has signed a multi-year contract
The San Jose Earthquakes have hired Alex Covelo as the team's Director of Methodology. Covelo will be responsible for establishing a one-club game development program with which players and coaches from the pre-formation ages (U-12+) to the first team can identify.
He is the second addition to the Quakes' technical staff in the last week, with Bruno Costa previously being named Head of Scouting.
"Alex is a key appointment for us that we have been pursuing for over 2 months," said Earthquakes general manager Jesse Fioranelli.
"While he assumed key developmental responsibilities in prestigious organizations, such as head of methodology at Espanyol and the renowned Ekkono soccer service program, what I most appreciate about Alex is that he's a team player and that he is driven to develop the game of football. He allows the Earthquakes to instill a method of our own, from how we develop our talent in training to how we establish our game identity in matches. He brings an in-depth expertise in reading and analyzing the game and sharing knowledge between coaches and players. Considering that there were elite teams in Europe and Asia interested in recruiting Alex underlines how much he and his family wanted to join us in San Jose."
Covelo, 38, holds a bachelor's degree in physical education and sport (URL - Barcelona), a master's degree in high performance team sports (INEFC - Barcelona) and a UEFA A coaching license, which is the second highest of the five UEFA qualifications. He speaks Spanish, Catalán, Italian and basic English, and has experience working with isoinertial machines and SmartCoach software.
Covelo was most recently a coaching instructor at Ekkono Soccer Services Group based out of Barcelona that leads the technical programs of French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain, and the Football Federations of Japan, Finland and Poland. Alex has been responsible for coaching education and game analysis since 2016.
He previously served as the head coach of San Marino in the Italian third division from 2014-15, after a stint as an assistant coach and match analyst with the club in 2013-14.
Prior to joining San Marino's lone professional club, Covelo had a variety of roles in his native Spain. From 2008-12, he worked at one of La Liga's most prestigious youth academy programs, RCD Espanyol of Barcelona in capacities such as head of methodology and director of fitness for the U-19s.
He also served as the head coach of the U-15 and U-19 squads at CF Badalona in Spain's third division from 2005-08.
During his extensive coaching career, Covelo worked with and helped develop several stars in Europe, including Barcelona winger Cristian Tello, Swansea City center back Jordi Amat and 19-year-old midfielder Amadou Diawara, who was recently purchased by Napoli for nearly $16 million.
Covelo was a player in the FC Barcelona Academy, competing through the U-19 level alongside legendary midfielder Xavi Hernandez. He later played professionally for several clubs throughout Catalonia.
