From Girona to Orlando Promises

He gave it all in 2017 to pursue the American dream. Izan Fernández changed his native Girona for Florida where he found his way coaching the young generation of American soccer. The Catalan leads the junior team of Ideasport Academy, a high-performance training center and one of the guests at the VII International LaLiga Promises Tournament.

As a child, Izan played in the lower categories of Girona and later jumped to the banks, although in 2017 the opportunity arose for him to make a living from what he loves most, training. This is how he told how he ended up in the United States.

“I was looking for the American dream, I happened to come here. I’m very grateful to be able to dedicate myself to soccer, to what I love, to try to contribute here in the United States to what we think should be done in soccer and promote growth.

“I arrived in September 2017. The club started in August of the same year and we tried to build everything from the base with the 40-odd guys with whom we started. Now we are close to 900. It is different from a professional club. We accommodate everyone. Everyone competes at their level and within that try to provide the best service and experience for those who trust us”, he explained.

Izan hardened himself playing in Girona and now he is trying to replicate what he learned during his time as a player. “We didn’t invent anything. We’re just doing it the way we think it should be done and trying to take what we’ve learned to Europe and export it here. Here they have a different concept of football. Maybe more primary and we try to do what we want and develop players”.

Ideasport is a soccer academy different from traditional clubs, following an American conception. For the players, being able to face Spanish teams in the Challenges is a unique opportunity. “Being here and playing against Barça, Madrid, etc. is a good opportunity to realize the differences, how many great people there are in football and how difficult it is. They accept it as a challenge.”

The arrival of Messi, an inspiration

Izan appreciates the arrival of Leo Messi in MLS as positive, especially because of the Argentine’s attraction and he can serve as an inspiration for new generations. “Messi’s arrival is to attract a lot of attention. Especially for Inter Miami. Anything that people are interested in will improve the level. It is good news that players of his level are giving the American League a chance. If that inspires those here to play and win more, welcome.”

Of course, Izan wants to return to Girona one day. “I really want to go home. Maybe not in Girona, but in Europe. I spend half my life there. I have family and friends. I feel lucky here, but to come back and be close to my family doing what I love will be great.”