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HE'S the box office coach winning hearts, minds and cult status at Adelaide United – welcome to Josep Gombau's dream factory.
In nine months Gombau has turned United from rust bucket to 'IT' side – winning with a smile and Catalan style.
The Reds on Saturday meet Central Coast Mariners in a cut-throat elimination final at Bluetongue Stadium they were never expected to make.
Gombau has become the talk of the A-League - forging an extraordinary bond with players and fans who love his pure football philosophy, rare passion and whacky goal celebrations.
"Putting on football boots every day is like a present life is giving to me," said Gombau, to remain with United until 2017 following a two-year contract extension granted by an appreciative club board on Thursday.
"I feel I was born to coach. The players are everything to me.
"There is total honesty, everyone is treated equally with a clear explanation of our destiny."
Reds players from skipper Eugene Galekovic down have collectively stipulated Gombau's retention in new contracts.
The 37-year-old has revolutionized the club from the ground up. United have become signature entertainers in a first season that was dedicated to learning a highly skilled, possession game that's formed the bedrock of Barcelona FC's success, Gombau's former club.
Josep Gombau, right, with Adelaide United chairman Greg Griffin at the announcement of his contract extension. Picture: Sarah Reed.
"It is not just me, the club connecting with the fans. They can see us fighting, running and playing the ball," said Gombau, who won a popular, nation-wide vote to steer the A-League All Stars against Serie A giant Juventus in August at ANZ Stadium
Few envisaged a Reds finals assault after their worst start to a season which yielded six points in nine rounds as players grappled with a different game-plan.
Adelaide United's courageous 2-2 draw with 10 men against Melbourne Heart at Coopers Stadium in the penultimate round sealed a finals slot and raw outpouring of emotion.
Gombau belly-slided 10 metres before embracing his men and lifting winger Awer Mabil to the crowd in unabashed joy. The Heston Blumenthal look-a-like makes no apology for true rapture.
"We needed a point to make the finals, Michael Marrone broke his leg, we conceded two penalties, played with 10 men and finally we scored an equalizer," explained former Barcelona FC Youth Academy boss Gombau.
"The moment is the moment.
"Some would say there should be more control but I felt so much happiness inside."
There's more to Gombau than the boundary side theatrics injecting a cult of personality into an A-League scene with a dearth of household names apart from retiring legend Harry Kewell.
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Gombau has already turned refugee Mabil, 18, from a Lost boy of Sudan into a man whose future lies in Europe.
"Josep is an amazing coach, doesn't complicate anything and very easy to talk to. He has something that unites a team, a bit of X-Factor," said crack winger Mabil, whose family escaped the killing fields of Sudan's bloody civil war.
Gombau treats "all his players equally" but notes Awer has seen and experienced "things others haven't".
"Awer's a bit younger, he can go overseas but we have to take care of him first," said Gombau, who holds a prestigious UEFA pro coaching licence.
Original Reds trainer Remo Paris has also been 'touched' by Gombau.
Paris, a club institution and true character, was amazed by the Spaniard's stream of hospital visits and phone calls during a battle with bone marrow cancer that is currently in remission.
"He is a very nice man, keeps sending me messages and wants to know how I am. I hadn't known him that long before my treatment," said Paris, embraced fence side by United's players at Gombau's direction after Marcelo Carrusca's 25th second opener against Heart at Hindmarsh.
Gombau has form with selfless acts.
Kitchee FC president Mr Ken Ng presented Gombau with an Audi A4 for guiding the side to the Hong Kong league title last year. The coach courteously returned the keys.
"Mr Ken said to sell the car and keep the money but I felt it should be for the players," Gombau recalled.
Gombau is humble despite enjoying direct lines to a bevy of Spanish World Cup stars including Andrés Iniesta, Gerard Piqué and Carles Puyol garnered over six years as director with Barcelona's youth set up.
There is quiet satisfaction when Gombau looks to those he directly mentored including Adama Traore, Chelsea's Oriol Romeu, Arsenal's Ignasi Miquel, and Stoke City's Marc Muniesa.
"You are just lucky because you are coaching the best players in the world and helping them to be successful," said Gombau, who coached his village side from 16 and progressed to Barcelona in 2003.
"When I first went to work at Barcelona it was amazing but after the six years I started to think maybe I don't want to spend my whole life teaching kids.
"I wanted to coach a professional team so I moved to Hong Kong. Adelaide then offered me a job, I wanted to go to Australia and I think I took a good decision."
Reds assistant Michael Valkanis says the full impact of Gombau's intellectual property delivered straight from the Camp Nou won't be appreciated until Reds youth team stars graduate to the A-League.
"I have learnt more from Josep in few months than years under so many coaches," said Valkanis, of Gombau who runs free 'coach the coaches" sessions each Monday night for lucky local mentors.
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"We now have a seamless system. He is a true teacher, great tactically, deals with setbacks quickly and is an exceptional communicator.
"Josep has as huge heart and we are very lucky to have not just a coach but a man like this at our club after so many ups and downs over the past 10 years."
Father of two Gombau is comfortable where he's come from and going to - remaining at Hindmarsh to completing Adelaide's "football project".
"Of course everyone wants to coach at the highest level, in the Spanish first division but I live the moment and am enjoying it here," said Gombau.
"I am not a coach who seeks to get results in one year. I want to finish what I have started and I think that will take three to four years."
JOSEP'S SIMPLE SECRET TO HAPPINESS
TWO venerable football loving restaurateurs and their quaint Italian cafe were the secret clincher in Josep Gombau's contract extension at Adelaide United.
Gombau, 37, wondered into Cafe Sabatini at Parkside on a bleak July day last year, his second in Adelaide - seeking an authentic Italian meal and cheer.
The charismatic Reds coach would discover a second family in Alfredo Forte and Janet Mignone that would make Adelaide feel more home than remote football outpost.
"I went just for a meal at Sabatini and got talking to Alfredo about life and football. Now we visit each other homes, my girls play with Alfredo's grand children and they love Janet," said Gombau.
The low point in Gombau's life came with the loss of grandfather Arturo who shaped his early years growing up in Amposta on Spain's Mediterranean coast.
However, Alfredo has become the sounding board he missed so far from home.
"He is a father figure to me which I value very much," said super-popular Reds boss Gombau.
Gombau says the term "happy wife, happy life" is the best way to describe his captivating journey to Adelaide.
If wife Romina, daughters Maria and Bruna weren't lapping up their Australian odyssey and support network then Gombau's contract extension until 2017 at Hindmarsh would have been complicated.
"When we arrived it wasn't easy as we had a small baby, Bruna, and were away from our family. It was difficult for my wife with a new city and but she now knows so many people," said Gombau.
"We really appreciate the hospitality of Adelaide and support we have."
Romina, a qualified English teacher, is already part of the club fabric, directing Adelaide United youth team's current tour Spanish tour.
"The players have been good and the staff. We were at my fellow coach Michael Valkanis' house on Christmas Eve and the chairman Greg Griffin's house on Christmas Day," he said.
"We also had a Christmas party with Alfredo and Janet. Everyone has welcomed us into their homes which has made us very happy."
Adelaide's traffic and restricted shopping hours remain the only culture shock for Gombau's 'Spanish Armada'.
"Back home all the cars speed up when the lights are red but not here," noted Gombau.
"I also have to check the time here as we are used to shops closing at 9pm each night."
FIVE THINGS JOSEP GOMBAU LOVES ABOUT ADELAIDE
1) Walking with family and his dog at Henley Beach
2) Adelaide's friendly people and hospitality
3) Cafe Sabitini for Italian fare with a family atmosphere
4) Cafe Buongiorno, Norwood, for breakfast on match days.
5) My wife Romina loves the Central Markets
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