1. Early Life and Education
2. Soccer Coaching Career
3. Professional Coaching Debut
4. Success with Luch-Energia Vladivostok
5. Personal Life

Early Life and Education

Josep Gombau was born in Barcelona, Spain, to a family of educators. His father was a university professor of English, while his mother worked as a school teacher. Josep has two sisters, one of whom pursued a career in teaching and the other in acting.

Soccer Coaching Career

Early Coaching Experience

Gombau's passion for soccer led him to pursue a coaching career. After completing university and receiving his coaching certification, he honed his skills by working with teams in the third and fourth divisions of the Spanish soccer league. He also gained valuable experience coaching youth teams for prestigious clubs like Valencia CF and Real Madrid.

Professional Coaching Debut

Gombau's professional coaching debut came with the Croatian club Hajduk Split. He then spent time in Russia as a fitness specialist for FC Luch-Energia Vladivostok, where he worked alongside his former mentor, Zoran Vulic.

Success with Luch-Energia Vladivostok

In 2009, Gombau was appointed as the head coach of Luch-Energia Vladivostok. Under his guidance, the team improved its performance, narrowly avoiding relegation and reaching the quarter-finals of the Russian Cup for the first time in their history.

Personal Life

Gombau married Ekaterina Shibanova, a native of Vladivostok, on June 24, 2010. The couple welcomed a daughter, Sofia, in December 2009. Josep's family played a significant role in his decision to stay in Vladivostok and continue his coaching career.

Trainer