Football, magic & home: José Barcala on his vision for Bayern

Magical moments, Mediterranean roots and Munich as the new centre of his life: José Barcala has been head coach of FC Bayern Women since the start of July. In his first big interview with fcbayern.com, the 43-year-old Spaniard speaks about football as a cultural asset, his first memories of Bayern and why he already feels at home in the Bavarian capital not just as a coach but also as a person.

Mr Barcala, you’ve been the new head coach of FC Bayern Women since the start of July – a job that comes with special demands. How have your first few weeks been?
José Barcala: “Very good. Intense, full of conversations, full of planning, full of energy. You’re immediately absorbed into the culture of FC Bayern but in a quiet, almost silent way. What’s impressed me most: despite the professionalism and performance standards, there’s a deep feeling of cohesion here. It’s not loud, not hectic, and that makes it unique and special. I feel incredibly welcome here, not only as a coach but also as a person.”

You’ve already worked in a lot of different countries as a coach, including Spain, Australia, Scotland and France. To what extent has that shaped you?
“In general, the understanding of football differs slightly everywhere. And I try to learn something new everywhere. I certainly wouldn’t be the coach I am today without all those experiences.”

What drives you as a coach?
“I think I’m always searching for special moments. For moments that trigger something in people. As a player, I realised by a certain point that I wasn’t capable of playing at the very highest level, but as a coach I have the chance to create just that: moments that people remember. Magic moments. That remains an incentive of mine to this day.”

What are those moments for you? A win? An individual piece of play?
“Not necessarily. It’s more about the way a team play. I fondly remember the time when my local club Deportivo La Coruña and the Barcelona dream team of Johan Cruyff electrified Spain with their football in the 1990s. The sport can arouse emotions, like a film or theatre play, which stay with you for a long time. Those years changed my perception of the game forever. They showed me: football is far more than tactics and results. It’s a cultural phenomenon.”

Listening to you speak about football, it sounds almost philosophical. Where does that approach come from?
“I see football as an expression of culture – and as something deeply human. If you only see players as athletes, you lose something crucial: their emotions. I think I’ve realised, particularly in women’s football, how important it is to listen, to give space, to guide. Not just to demand.”

Can you still remember your first encounter with FC Bayern?
“It must have been in summer 1990, the Teresa Herrera Trophy in A Coruña. Bayern versus Deportivo. I was nine or 10 years old. Bayern won 3-2. That was the first moment I remember in connection with the club. Since then the club has always meant something to me. Roy Makaay then played for Deportivo; now he works here at the club, as I recently discovered. I’d like to get to know him in the future.”

When you’re not on the pitch, what do you like doing in your free time?
“I spend a lot of time with my family. Our daughters are nine and three. We like going to parks, eating ice cream at Marienplatz, driving out to Lake Tegernsee or also going to the Olympic Park. I like the mixture of city and nature here. It reminds me a bit of home in Galicia.”

Away from football, you’re also very interested in gastronomy. Are there parallels between cooking and the work of a coach?
“Very many, in fact. I like watching documentaries and reading books from Ferran Adrià, the big Spanish chef. I think the world of fine dining and that of football are massively alike. It’s about precision and creativity, but also team leadership under pressure. Adrià’s cooking isn’t just cooking. He’s changed the way people think about food. That impacted me.”

In what way?
“Adrià was surrounded by chefs who were probably technically better than him. But what made him stand out was his vision, his perseverance in sticking to an idea against all doubts. I remember that well about Steve Jobs. He maybe wasn’t the best engineer either, but he had the clearest idea about what’s possible.”

Can you apply that to your work as a coach?
“Absolutely. Football is often precisely timed, performance-optimised, without much room for error – and sometimes that also means without room for innovation. But if we want to continue to develop football, we have to make that room.”

As well as your fascination for elite cooking, are there any other things that can enthuse you besides football?
“Certainly stand-up comedy. For me it’s the most intelligent form of entertainment. Good comedians observe society closely – and show us what goes wrong. Often subtle, sometimes harsh but always human. That’s something that really allows me to switch off.”

Let’s look to the future: it’s your first season in the Bundesliga. Is there one match you’re particularly looking forward to this season?
“I’m basically looking forward to all the matches – be it in the Bundesliga, the cup or the Champions League. I’m especially looking forward to my first game at the Allianz Arena, though. It’ll be my first official Bundesliga match with my team, and my very first in the stadium. I’ve never been there before, not even as a spectator. We can expect an incredible atmosphere, with currently at least 30,000 people guaranteed to be behind us. That’ll be special.”

What do you see as the highest aim in football?
“That a team lives by its own identity. And that the people who watch feel something. I think that’s the core: emotion, connection. If you get that, you’re a long way there.”

Last question: how would you describe yourself in three words?
“(long pause) Someone else should do that. But fine – I try to be empathetic. I try to listen. And I try to be honest. I think if you’re not a good person, you can’t be a good coach either. I’ve learned that from my family.”

Mr Barcala, thank you for the interview. And again, welcome to Munich!
“Thanks. It’s an honour for me.”

30,000 tickets have already been sold for FC Bayern Women’s opening Bundesliga match: