Alexis Haecker: “Madrid, the City that Breathes Football!”
How did your passion for football come about?
At the age of 8, I tried playing football, like many children, with the support of my parents. I immediately liked this sport. I felt it could be a life path for me.
Initially, my dream was just to be a player. My mother quickly encouraged me, sensing my real enthusiasm for this sport. We watched games on TV together, I even commentated on the games before the commentators. It felt like they were using my words.
In high school, I joined a football class in a sports study program. All my afternoons were dedicated to this sport, and I also played in a club. In my club, twice a year we had to train younger players. This other side of the sport attracted me.
At the end of high school, we left Savoie and moved as a family to Mexico. Throughout my years in high school, football remained my passion.
How did your project to move to Spain come about?
During a presentation of university courses at my international school in Queretaro, Mexico, the European University of Madrid caught my eye. They were presenting their program in Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, with a specialization in high-performance sports of our choice. I decided to take the plunge.
For me, Madrid is the city “that breathes football!” From my second year, I started simultaneously pursuing my football coaching diplomas, UEFA C and then UEFA B the following year. I completed all my internships at AD Villaviciosa de Odon, a club that I really appreciated.
As I neared the end of my university studies, I opted for a master’s degree in football management, still at the same university. Thanks to my academic advisor, I was able to do a ten-month internship at Real Madrid. After my internship, I received offers from other clubs to coach, but I remained loyal to AD Villaviciosa de Odon, where I currently coach and also work as a fitness trainer.
In Spain, where football is everywhere, almost a whole culture in itself, and especially in Madrid, it’s hard to imagine a better place to make a living out of it.
How do you fully live off football today in Spain?
I wear two hats. In the morning, I work at a football consulting company, NextEra Sport. We have a football academy that collaborates with foundations, governments, or professional foreign clubs (like Singapore or Saudi Arabia). We offer high-performance programs for their young players to develop in contact with Spanish football. We also organize camps for the public. Some have been led by international professionals like Varane, Diaz, or Carreras, as well as international tournaments in Madrid. Always in the same spirit.
Young teams from other countries need to compete against Spanish young footballers. It’s a field of excellence on a global level. Some youth teams are leaders in their league, or come from prestigious European club academies (like PSG, AS Roma, Ajax…) and yet they can lose to a team from the Community of Madrid that doesn’t belong to a big club. That shows the level differences sometimes!
In the afternoon, I’m on the field at AD Villaviciosa de Odon, where I work as a coach, fitness trainer, and educator. I also assist 7-a-side football coaches in their activities. Loyal and committed to the club where I started in Spain.
In Spain, where football is everywhere, almost a whole culture in itself, and especially in Madrid, it’s hard to imagine a better place to make a living out of it.
