FCBarcelona has announced the appointment of Jesús Unzué as the new goalkeeping coach of Barça Atlètic, replacing Unai Alba who has joined the Valencia coaching staff under the direction of Javier Aguirre. The decision came as a result of the departure of Alba, who had held the position for three years and will be replaced by the son of JuanCarlos Unzué, who has already worked in the club's youth ranks since 2019.
Jesús Unzué, 32, headed the JuvenilA goalkeeping department before being promoted to the reserve team. His move to Barça Atlètic will allow him to collaborate with coach JulianoBelletti and his team, which includes assistant coach FranSánchez, assistant SergioBusquets, analyst JoanVicente and physical trainers RafaMaldonado and GermánFernández. With the move of Unzué, the responsibility of the goalkeepers in JuvenilA falls to ÀlexSánchez, who already supervises the U-16 and U-15 teams, while FerranMontijano will continue to direct the JuvenilB goalkeepers.
The club expressed its gratitude to Unai Alba for his dedication and professionalism during his time in the reserve team. The coach himself said goodbye on social networks, receiving praise for his work and for having contributed to the development of the quarry players. Barça highlights that Alba's experience in preparing goalkeepers will be valuable for Valencia, where he will join JavierAguirre's team.
The change of personnel in the Barça Atlètic goalkeeping department occurs at a time of consolidation of the youth squad, with the intention of maintaining continuity in the technical and tactical training of the players. Jesús Unzué, with his career in the youth categories, is presented as the ideal figure to continue the tradition of excellence in the preparation of the club's goalkeepers. The next step will be for the new coach to adapt to the demands of the reserve team and continue the talent development work that Barça has characterized in recent decades.