The legend of the Vila de Gràcia: "Money isn't everything"

BarcelonaFew footballers can boast of having spent eighteen years at the same club. Àlex Cano (Barcelona, 1988) is one of them. The captain of Europa will face his eighteenth season, the second consecutive in Primera RFEF, with the 'escapulat' team with the same enthusiasm as the first day. “Europa is my home. I've spent half my life coming practically every day to Nou Sardenya. When you feel like you belong to Europa, it's hard to leave,” he assures ARA after finishing the first edition of the camp that bears his name.

“It’s an idea I had because in training many times clubs deal with the offensive and ball-playing aspect, but there are other shortcomings that many footballers have; like knowing how to play with their body or defend better. We give them concepts that help them be even better,” Cano reviews, while confirming that there will be a new edition during Christmas, Easter, and next summer. “I have the three coaching levels so that when I retire I can try it,” he confesses.

The Gracienc team is experiencing one of the best sporting moments in recent times. After narrowly missing out on promotion last season, this summer has seen a big change in the squad. “I’m used to it and I take it calmly. People get nervous, but in the end, a great team always ends up being formed. Unfortunately, Europa is economically at the bottom of the First RFEF teams, and we have to wait to try to fish for players who in principle would be impossible, but at a certain point they want to continue in the category and Europa can then seem like a good option to them,” he says.

There has also been a change on the bench. After two very successful seasons with Aday Benítez –promotion to the First Federation and the dispute of the play-offs for promotion to the Second Division– Josep Maria Gené, sporting director and coach of the reserve team during the final stretch of last season, has taken on the challenge of leading the first team. Aday has decided to embark on new paths. “We will try, with his experience, to propel us in a year that seems very complicated, like all those in the First Federation. We want to be a very offensive team,” he states.

Exiled again

After having to finish last season at Can Dragó –the Nou Sardenya does not have natural grass–, Europa faces a new season away from home. “We have the advantage that we already know what it's like to play there. We have to try to adapt quickly because in this category, if you start badly, it's hard to turn things around,” describes a Cano who is very satisfied with the fans' response. “It’s a shame to have to leave Vila de Gràcia, but our people will never leave us”.

While at Sant Andreu —which has just been promoted to the Primera Federació— work has already begun to put natural grass at Narcís Sala (it will be available in November), at the Nou Sardenya, matches of the Primera Federació are not expected to be played until the 2027-28 season, as it involves more complex works. “For us it is bad news sportingly and economically; not playing at home hurts us. We ask the City Council to carry out the relevant works and give us natural grass now. We need it, otherwise, the club could have problems,” claims the captain of Europa.

One step away from returning to professional football

Despite being one of the lowest budgets in the category, last season the scapulars were on the verge of returning to professional football. The Gracienca entity fell in extra time in the semi-finals of the play-off for promotion to the Second Division against Celta's reserve team, which would eventually be promoted. “We will once again be among all the predictions for relegation, but we, without any pressure and with all the enthusiasm in the world, will try to bring Europa as high as possible. Last season was a great reflection that money in this category is not everything,” encourages Cano, who has witnessed the club's entire growth in recent years.

After being one of the founders of the League, Europa has been competing in the Third Division for many years. “There was a time when we were always fighting to get promoted, but I thought the train for these promotions had already passed me by. In our thirteenth season we were promoted,” he recalls. “You always remember the successes, from the Copa Catalunya that we won against Girona in 2015 to the League titles to get promoted to the Segunda Federación and the Primera Federación, where I was also lucky enough to score the winning goal at Il·licità’s ground. Then we came here to Gràcia, where our people were waiting for us to celebrate big and with a parade through the streets of the town, which was very emotional,” he adds.

The example that, with hard work, everything comes

Àlex Cano is an example that with work, patience and perseverance, opportunities eventually arrive. In fact, on November 18, at the age of 37, he debuted with the absolute Catalan national team at Montjuïc against Palestine. “It was a magical day, unexpected too. I'll have few more special days than that one,” he recalls.

His brother, Jordi Cano, has also reaped the rewards now. A few weeks ago, his signing for Andorra of the Second Division was made official. “He started in the Second Catalan League, then he played in the Third Division for many years and, step by step, he has made a name for himself in Catalan football. He still has a lot to say,” he trusts. However, Cano also calls for the help of institutions to grow Catalan football. “Other communities like Andalusia, Valencia or Madrid have many teams placed between the First and Second Divisions. I believe Catalonia can still place more,” he concludes.