Earthquakes Hire Alex Covelo as Director of Methodology

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.

Earthquakes Hire Andres Deza as Girls' Academy Director

Foto Terremotos

Deza has coached numerous players called to U.S. YNT, WNT camps

The San Jose Earthquakes have hired Andres Deza as the Director for the club's Girls' Development Academy program. U.S. Soccer's Girls' Development Academy features 74 clubs in six regional divisions nationwide and will begin play in the fall of 2017.

"I am thrilled to join the Earthquakes in this role and to help them grow youth soccer on the female side," said Deza. "I am very honored to join an MLS club seriously interested in investing in female soccer long-term. I am joining the Quakes with the intention to contribute to their overall club vision and excited to lead their Girls' Development Academy program."

For tryout information about the girls' academy, please go to www.sjearthquakes.com/youth/girls. For more information or any questions, please email girlsda@sjearthquakes.com.

Deza, 49, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to San Jose. Past roles on his résumé include time as a coach and as the director of coaching for the Gryphons Soccer Club in San Mateo, a stint as the technical director for the De Anza Force Girls' ECNL program, and a two-year stretch as the NorCal U.S. Training Center Liaison and member of the national team camp coaching staff for U.S. Soccer.

"This is a special day for girls soccer in San Jose and the Bay Area," Earthquakes general manager Jesse Fioranelli said. "Andres is a great coach and academy director with a track-record that few can fall back onto in women's football. Having appreciated the amount of feedback and interest from players and families throughout the Bay Area, we wanted to work with the best coach that identifies with our vision in terms of player development and forming a one-club game identity."

Spending significant time as a head coach at the club level, Deza led the De Anza Force 98G ECNL to a national championship at the U-14 level in 2013.

A native of Barcelona, Spain, Deza has coached nearly a dozen players born between 1998 and 2003 who have gone on to earn invites to U.S. Youth National Team or U.S. Women's National Team camps.

Deza currently resides in Belmont, California, with his wife Izumi and daughters Momo and Luca.

About U.S. Soccer Girls Development AcademyThe U.S. Soccer Girls Development Academy kicks off its first season in the fall of 2017 following the success of the Boys Development Academy. The first season of the Quakes Girls' Development Academy will have teams at the U-19 (1999, 2000 birth years), U-17 (2001 and 2002 birth years), U-15 (2003 birth year) and U-14 (2004 birth year) levels. The tryouts for the development academy teams will be announced in the near future. For questions or more information, please email girlsda@sjearthquakes.com.