Aitor López Rekarte (Arrasate, 1975) has gone from succeeding on the right wing of Anoeta to trying adventures on the benches. While the opportunity comes, he also enters the world of the soccer player representation agency. He does not stop still and will be a coach in the days organized by the AFE.
What does the AFE conference consist of?
Four games are planned, the concentration begins on August 24 and ends on September 6. In this complicated context it is important that these players can be seen by agents and clubs.
What is the OBJETIVE?
Trying to accompany the players who are without a team is also an opportunity to have some training for them and also for the coaches. It is important to nourish yourself with all kinds of experiences. For me it will also be a learning process on the relational topic. It is as if it were a mini preseason, there are also training sessions, but everything is focused so that there are people watching them.
What players without a team participate?
First you have to make a selection, it will be done tomorrow. Of all the players who sign up, you have to make a team of 22 players and then distribute the minutes in the four games. It never rains to everyone's liking, if more people sign up at the end I will have to make a selection. You cannot work with everyone, it is one of the most pseudo negative things of the conference.
Some can even relaunch their career.
That part of opportunity is what we put on the table. Those players who are without a team, in some way, should take advantage of it so that someone can notice them.
Raúl Navas participated in 2012 and then came to Eibar and later to Real, for example.
This is like everything, we are not going to fool ourselves, that it is an opportunity is obvious, but it is not easy. Navas was part of one of the events, but it is not an easy path. As a coach, my intention is to convey that it is possible to find a team, but the rate that someone can hire them is what it is. But like the one who starts working in a quarry structure like La Real. What is the percentage of a player finishing in First? It is not easy. The important thing is to facilitate that environment.
What is your situation as a coach, do you have offers?
My training has gone in various directions in recent years, in this last stage more as a coach, I have been training several teams. I have a sports management degree and this year I started working with Stellar Group, which is a sports representation agency. I'm in that area a bit, trying things out and doing my best. I am open to things happening. My future in the medium term is not clear to me.
Two very different worlds, right?
Very different. The scope of the coach is much more lone wolf. The demand of the job makes you be in the eye of the hurricane, if results are not achieved it is the one that they fit. The scope of representation is more collaborative, even with other agents that are not from the same company. You have to relate to the player, to his environment … That connection of trust becomes very important.
Do you already represent a player?
Right now my focus is to go little by little. I am part of one of the most powerful structures in the world, it gives me confidence that they support my work. I want to build trust in lower categories. Stellar in Gipuzkoa had no one and they decided for me, a former player who could be representative. My journey will be very long-term, I have training as a technician, now I have no offers that will make me change course.
Is the market that has just started the most atypical in recent years?
Undoubtedly, the moments that we are in are of uncertainty and it retracts all investments. Contracts are ongoing, but those yet to be made are made with caution. From the first level to below. Structures like the Real will follow the same course as always, the issue gets complicated when there is money involved. There is fear and reflection in the teams.
Is the Real better positioned in the current situation than other teams?
Maybe yes and maybe not. It is evident that the structure that the Royal Society has is enviable and it is not done overnight. It costs a lot. Apart from the technical-tactical, principles and values are the order of the day. That costs a lot and there are not so many representative clubs in what I comment. I can count them on the fingers of my left hand. It's a part of the success, but this changes a lot from one year to the next, look at my stage as a player (laughs).