Swans get a Pep-talk
19th November
Swansea City is pleased to confirm the appointment of Josep Clotet as Academy Consultant.
Better known as Pep, the 36-year-old Spaniard has been handed the task of improving the structure of the club's Academy, with specific emphasis on training methods and coach development.
Born just outside Barcelona, Pep played for his home-town club CF Igualada before injury curtailed his amateur career and led him to coaching children with local side UE Cornella.
He attained his Uefa Pro-licence in 2003 at the age of just 26 and joined La Liga outfit Espanyol where he was given responsibility for the Under-17 squad.
From there he progressed to the Under-19s where he won the Spanish championship, before stepping up to clinch promotion with the Reserves.
After five years with Espanyol, he became assistant-manager to Roland Nilsson at Malmo where he helped win the Swedish championship in 2010.
He joined fellow top-flight side Halmstads the following year as head coach before moving to Norway as head staff coach of Viking FK under manager Age Hareide.
There was a return to Spain in July 2012 as Pep was appointed Reserve team manager and talent developer at La Liga side Malaga where the club enjoyed one of its best campaigns with Champions League football.
It was Pep's ability to develop players for the first team at both Espanyol and Malaga that saw his reputation soar in football circles, including a spell as Director of the Catalonia Federation's Coaching School where he developed several high profile courses for Pro-licence coaches.
There are currently over 20 of Pep's former pupils playing top-flight football around the world, including the likes of Tello (Barcelona), David Lopez (Espanyol), Fabrice Olinga (Malaga and Cameroon), Sergio Tejera (Espanyol), Alexandru Maxim (Stuttgart and Romania), plus Swansea's own ex-Espanyol duo Jordi Amat and Alvaro Vasquez.
"I have been appointed to help develop the way Swansea play football throughout the Academy structure,'' explained Pep. "It is vital that the Academy produces players able to perform in the Premier League in a style the club has been developing over the last seven or eight years.
"I have been very impressed with what I've seen over the last few weeks. The club is all united in not only developing the first team for the present, but also the whole club for the future.
"The work they have done to provide the excellent training facilities at Landore, plus the additional development at Fairwood, highlights the importance they are placing on the future.
"They all want to leave a legacy for Swansea City, which is incredible because you rarely see that mentality at other clubs. Usually it is just about the first team and immediate success.''
Pep has been all over Europe in recent years studying the game and admits: "There is no right way to play. It's about finding the one that suits you. There is always a mix of styles, whether that's Barcelona or Ajax.''
Pep has been keeping a fairly low profile since officially agreeing to join the club last month.
"I've been quietly analysing the 16 to 21 age groups before taking a look at the younger teams,'' he adds.
"I want to help analyse all aspects before working together with all the other coaches at the club to put a very clear system and structure in place.
"I'm here to be a support for all the coaches and help Swansea City remain successful for many more years to come.''
Better known as Pep, the 36-year-old Spaniard has been handed the task of improving the structure of the club's Academy, with specific emphasis on training methods and coach development.
Born just outside Barcelona, Pep played for his home-town club CF Igualada before injury curtailed his amateur career and led him to coaching children with local side UE Cornella.
He attained his Uefa Pro-licence in 2003 at the age of just 26 and joined La Liga outfit Espanyol where he was given responsibility for the Under-17 squad.
From there he progressed to the Under-19s where he won the Spanish championship, before stepping up to clinch promotion with the Reserves.
After five years with Espanyol, he became assistant-manager to Roland Nilsson at Malmo where he helped win the Swedish championship in 2010.
He joined fellow top-flight side Halmstads the following year as head coach before moving to Norway as head staff coach of Viking FK under manager Age Hareide.
There was a return to Spain in July 2012 as Pep was appointed Reserve team manager and talent developer at La Liga side Malaga where the club enjoyed one of its best campaigns with Champions League football.
It was Pep's ability to develop players for the first team at both Espanyol and Malaga that saw his reputation soar in football circles, including a spell as Director of the Catalonia Federation's Coaching School where he developed several high profile courses for Pro-licence coaches.
There are currently over 20 of Pep's former pupils playing top-flight football around the world, including the likes of Tello (Barcelona), David Lopez (Espanyol), Fabrice Olinga (Malaga and Cameroon), Sergio Tejera (Espanyol), Alexandru Maxim (Stuttgart and Romania), plus Swansea's own ex-Espanyol duo Jordi Amat and Alvaro Vasquez.
"I have been appointed to help develop the way Swansea play football throughout the Academy structure,'' explained Pep. "It is vital that the Academy produces players able to perform in the Premier League in a style the club has been developing over the last seven or eight years.
"I have been very impressed with what I've seen over the last few weeks. The club is all united in not only developing the first team for the present, but also the whole club for the future.
"The work they have done to provide the excellent training facilities at Landore, plus the additional development at Fairwood, highlights the importance they are placing on the future.
"They all want to leave a legacy for Swansea City, which is incredible because you rarely see that mentality at other clubs. Usually it is just about the first team and immediate success.''
Pep has been all over Europe in recent years studying the game and admits: "There is no right way to play. It's about finding the one that suits you. There is always a mix of styles, whether that's Barcelona or Ajax.''
Pep has been keeping a fairly low profile since officially agreeing to join the club last month.
"I've been quietly analysing the 16 to 21 age groups before taking a look at the younger teams,'' he adds.
"I want to help analyse all aspects before working together with all the other coaches at the club to put a very clear system and structure in place.
"I'm here to be a support for all the coaches and help Swansea City remain successful for many more years to come.''
