After the successful 2018 season with EIF and an unsuccessful start to the 2019 season, the Catalan Gabri Garcia left Xatart Ekenäs. Now he is back at the club and wants to create something big.
– The current series system with a final series for six and a kind of playoff in Etan makes it possible and realistic to even play for promotion to the league. We want to reach as high a position as possible in the series, Gabri Garcia Xatart sums up the goal for him and his team.
The Catalan began his second session as coach of the EIF a few weeks ago. When he last coached Ekenäslaget in the football set, success in the 2018 season (EIF came third in the series) was replaced by disappointment and farewell in June 2019.
Now he starts his job from a clean slate and didn’t think too long when he agreed to the comeback. After working in PEPO in Villmanstrand and in Åboklubben TPS, he is now back in Ekenäs and EIF.
– In Ekenäs is my Finnish home. It was easy to accept the offer I received. The start has been easy for me, I know the club, the city and the staff at EIF, says Xatart.
Very familiar, very new
Although it may feel familiar to him to train EIF in Ekenäs, a lot has changed since the summer of 2019. In the squad, there are really only William Lindqvist, Simon Lindholm and August Björklund left.
The playing squad changes quite a lot from year to year, a dilemma that affects most clubs at this league level. It still doesn’t seem to worry the 33-year-old Catalan very much.
Stanislav Efimov (with the ball) is one of the few players who will continue in the EIF also in the 2023 season.
Image: Patric Westerlund / Yle
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At the moment, EIF has about a dozen players ready in its representative team, which is preparing for the ninth season in the men’s league. A handful of those players are juniors.
– It’s fun to see that guys who were teenagers when I was last coach here have grown up and become talented footballers, says Xatart, referring to a four-year-old EIF adept who has joined the team in the second highest league.
He is referring to Linus Estlander, Oliver Estlander, Selim Snabb and Castor Westerholm. In addition, the P17 team’s goalkeeper Onni Rintamäki has signed a junior contract with the national team.
Goalkeeper, centre-back and striker needed
The fact that EIF’s playing squad is in the thinnest team does not give the coach sleepless nights. Xatart is sure that EIF will have a powerful team on its feet in the 2023 season as well.
– We need at least a goalkeeper, a centre-back and an attacking player. We may have to wait a bit before making any decisions. Some players still aspire to a place in the top league, but reinforcements will surely come.
Coach Gabri Garcia Xatart talks and the players listen.
Image: Patric Westerlund / Yle
soccer, men’s soccer players, soccer players, men’s soccer, soccer coaches, Ettan, Ekenäs, Ekenäs IF, Raseborg, Västnyland, coach, training, Catalans, Spaniards
In EIF, it is the sporting director Peter Haglund who makes the final decisions about which players the club recruits for its team.
– We have good communication. Both are working for the club’s best interests, assures Gabri Garcia Xatart.
Gabri Garcia Xatart happy to be back in EIF and Ekenäs
Training with the men’s team has started and the team is still looking for its form. Now it is important for the new players in the team to get to know each other.
– Of course, we have to let the process continue all the time and eventually start to get the tactical aspects in place. Etta’s Cup and the practice matches are very important in this process.
Xatart’s old club in Etta’s premiere
The season kicks off on 15.4. EIF meets Xatart’s old club TPS at Centrumplan in Ekenäs.
– It will be interesting. I know many of the players, the club is familiar to me and many of the people who work in TPS are good friends of mine. It will be fun to take three points in that match, says Xatart with a really broad smile.
Selim Snabb runs with the ball in his feet. He is being chased by Artur Atarah. At the back, Oliver Estlander. The picture is from a training session in January.
Image: Patric Westerlund / Yle
soccer, men’s soccer players, soccer players, men’s soccer, soccer coaches, Ettan, Ekenäs, Ekenäs IF, Raseborg, Västnyland, coach, training
In the 2018 season, EIF played very creative and efficient football. The team came third in the league table, EIF’s best position in the men’s division.
It feels justified to ask if the new coach wants to see his team play similar football in the 2023 season:
– We must be a ball-holding team that presses high on the playing field, says Gabri Garcia Xatart.
