Alex Covelo originally joined the Earthquakes as the team’s first-ever Director of Methodology on April 25, 2017. He has also served as an assistant coach for the Quakes on two separate occasions, filling in under interim head coach Chris Leitch at the end of the 2017 season and interim head coach Steve Ralston at the end of the 2018 season.
Contact Alex Covelo at acovelo@sjearthquakes.com
As Director of Methodology, he is responsible for establishing a one-club game development program with which players and coaches from the pre-formation ages (U-12+) to the first team can identify. He also works directly with high-potential players within the Quakes Academy.
Covelo holds a bachelor’s degree in physical education and sport (URL – Barcelona), a master’s degree in high performance team sports (INEFC – Barcelona) and a UEFA A coaching license, which is the second highest of the five UEFA qualifications. He speaks Spanish, Catalán, Italian and basic English, and has experience working with isoinertial machines and SmartCoach software.
Covelo was most recently a coaching instructor at Ekkono Soccer Services Group based out of Barcelona that leads the technical programs of French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain, and the Football Federations of Japan, Finland and Poland. Alex has been responsible for coaching education and game analysis since 2016.
He previously served as the head coach of San Marino in the Italian third division from 2014-15, after a stint as an assistant coach and match analyst with the club in 2013-14.
Prior to joining San Marino’s lone professional club, Covelo had a variety of roles in his native Spain. From 2008-12, he worked at one of La Liga’s most prestigious youth academy programs, RCD Espanyol of Barcelona in capacities such as head of methodology and director of fitness for the U-19s.
He also served as the head coach of the U-15 and U-19 squads at CF Badalona in Spain’s third division from 2005-08.
During his extensive coaching career, Covelo worked with and helped develop several stars in Europe, including Barcelona winger Cristian Tello, Swansea City center back Jordi Amat and midfielder Amadou Diawara, who was purchased by Napoli for nearly $16 million.
Covelo was a player in the FC Barcelona Academy, competing through the U-19 level alongside legendary midfielder Xavi Hernandez. He later played professionally for several clubs throughout Catalonia.