This week, Manuel Plaza García, a physical trainer from Salamanca, is preparing for a significant life change as he moves to the United States to join the Juventus Academy, the international school of the renowned Italian football club. This new role presents him with the opportunity to shape the future of young football talents.
From his hometown, filled with excitement and nerves, Manuel is reflecting on how his life is about to transform completely. This venture is not merely a job; it is a chance for personal and professional growth, a chance to learn in a different country while sharing his approach to sports, developed through years of dedication and humility.
His journey began not in grand stadiums or through influential networks but on the modest pitches of Santa Marta de Tormes, where he started training while still a student. There, among footballs and cones, he learned the essence of building a career from the ground up with patience and continuous learning. “Before finishing my degree, I was already involved in football,” he recalls, exuding a calm confidence that suggests he understands how each step has led him to this moment.
With a degree in Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, along with prior training qualifications and a master”s in high performance, Manuel has balanced his studies with practical experience over the years. His path has been one of steady progress rather than leaps. At Santa Marta, where he worked as a physical trainer for many years, he honed his skills in managing groups and recognizing the unique needs of each player. He emphasizes the importance of the often unseen work that makes a real difference in performance.
His transition to a professional club came with his time at Alavés, an experience that significantly reshaped his perspective on football. There, he realized that physical preparation involves both science and intuition, requiring a balance of data and human interaction. The opportunity to join Juventus Academy came quietly, without any extravagant promises, and he was initially offered a two-week trial period, during which he demonstrated that his disciplined and respectful approach aligned with the academy”s vision.
After the trial, the anticipation grew as he navigated the paperwork and visa processes, and now, that opportunity is finally materializing. Manuel shares his story without dramatization, reflecting a maturity gained from overcoming challenges. Before becoming a trainer, he was a player himself, having been part of the youth team at Salamanca until a knee injury and a botched surgery ended his football aspirations. “I had to leave football, and thankfully, I pursued my degree,” he reflects, acknowledging how setbacks can also pave the way for new paths.
Manuel is set to fly to the United States on Wednesday, where he will work across all age groups at Juventus Academy, from 11-year-olds to young adults aged 18 or 19. His mission will focus on coordinating physical training, a field in U.S. football that is still developing. “They want to bring in individuals with European experience to enhance this aspect, especially with the growing popularity of football following recent international tournaments,” he explains.
His role extends beyond just training; it involves instilling a methodology, teaching local coaches how to balance strength and technique, injury prevention, and preparation for professional advancement. This complex task excites him. “It”s a life change, a new challenge, and new experiences. I had offers in Spain, but I wanted a fresh start, and what better way to do that than 7,000 kilometers away,” he states. His partner will join him on this adventure, marking the beginning of a new chapter that promises personal growth alongside his professional journey.
Behind every leap forward lies a support system, and for Manuel, that includes family and friends. When he announced his departure to the United States, reactions ranged from joy to nostalgia. “Some were more excited than I was about my move. They understand it is a unique opportunity, a life change. Others find it harder because of the distance and time difference,” he notes.
Manuel embraces a philosophy that discourages setting limits on himself. “You should not put a ceiling on your ambitions,” he asserts. “I was in Santa Marta, searching for a place to stay, when I received the call from Alavés, followed by the one from Juventus. Life can be unpredictable. A year ago, if you told me I would be moving to the United States, I would have thought you were crazy.” His approach is to seize each moment without fixating on the future. “Whatever comes next, I welcome it. Everything I take with me to the United States is a learning experience. If it goes well, great; if not, I will still have gained incredible insights,” he summarizes.
Manuel departs without dramatics but with a sense of calm, as someone who knows that significant journeys do not end; they merely evolve. “The goal is to return to Spain someday. This is a phase, an experience.” Perhaps the greatest achievement of his story is not merely joining an international academy but doing so while maintaining perspective. He does not define himself by the club he now represents but by the journey that brought him here. He speaks of his work with humility, devoid of pretense. “Of course, I feel a bit nervous. But it is an incredible thrill. To represent such a club, to earn a living doing something I love… it is a dream.” This dream, which began on the dirt fields of Salamanca, is now leading him to American grass, where children with different accents will repeat the drills he designs. It is a testament that sometimes the longest journeys are made with small, steady steps. As he mentally prepares to leave behind family, friends, and routine, Manuel looks ahead to what awaits: the first training session, the language barrier, and cultural differences. None of it seems daunting to him. “Everything is a learning opportunity,” he insists. Perhaps that is why his story resonates not as a farewell but as a beginning. From Santa Marta to Juventus, from Salamanca to the world, with a knee that taught him resilience, a career that equipped him with the necessary tools, and a passion that drives him, unbounded, toward a dream that is already coming to life. Manuel Plaza has officially joined the Juventus Academy as a physical trainer in the United States.
