SOCCER
Luis Vicente Mateo, bringing together soccer players from all over the world for scouts and talent spotters
The former director of Valencia and Espanyol’s youth academies will oversee the camp from January 7 to 14 in Albir, Alicante. The initiative is aimed at talent scouts.
Luis Vicente Mateo, who spent five years as the head of Valencia’s Academy and also led the youth setup at Espanyol, will take charge of around 20 footballers from across the globe this January at the Albir Garden Sports complex in El Albir (Alicante). Mateo will bring the players together in a camp running from January 7 to 14, 2025, showcasing their skills to a host of professional scouts from various teams attending the event.
Soccer players from around the world in Alicante
This initiative is the driving force behind the fifth edition of the FutbolJobs professional ‘Tryouts,’ organized by the football employment platform. Mateo is currently selecting the 20 players, though some have already confirmed their participation, hailing from countries such as Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Mali, Russia, and Cuba. Over 60 applications have been submitted so far to attend the Tryouts.
The chosen players will train for a week under top-tier international coaches and will compete in two friendly matches. Mateo himself brings international experience, having served as the technical director at Maccabi Haifa in Israel and led LaLiga projects to recruit players in Kenya.
Clubs hoping to find future talent
As for the clubs sending scouts to discover hidden gems, teams like Real Murcia, Hércules, Crevillente, and Benidorm have already confirmed their attendance. Additionally, there is ongoing communication with international clubs and teams from Spain’s top divisions: LaLiga, Segunda División, Primera RFEF, Segunda RFEF, and Tercera RFEF, who are also organizing their participation in the event.
For Luis Vicente Mateo, the project’s director, “The goal of the Tryouts is to create a highly professional, seven-day camp where we can identify the talent coming to us from all over the world and offer them opportunities with Spanish clubs, depending on their level.” Mateo added, “We will treat these young players like professionals, not just from a footballing perspective, but also in terms of education, ensuring they learn and experience the essence of the daily life in football.”