Over the past five years, Ekkono has been developing the methodology department at Nara Club. This effort has involved the dedication of several coaches traveling to Japan—primarily Darío and Bernat—as well as support and guidance from Ekkono’s headquarters in Barcelona.

Numerous Ekkono processes have been implemented during this time to strengthen the Club’s identity. Some notable examples include:

• Talkmade Dynamics: Key documents have been created, such as the club’s game model, content planning, training methodology, and weekly Tuesday training sessions.

• Smartfielder Support: Hands-on assistance on the field, supporting all coaches and staff to implement the strategies and best practices developed in Talkmade. This includes private mentoring and individual development sessions.

• Co-learning Innovation: Cross-training processes between coaches (trainings, evaluation, mentoring), as well as interactions between players from different teams, have been executed to promote shared learning.

• Committees: A structured plan of values and habits has been established, including the launch of the “Big Brother” program to strengthen camaraderie among all players in the club.

With all these processes in place, sometimes the results speak for themselves, and this is exactly what happened this week. The Nara Club U17 team has qualified to compete among the top eight teams in Japan, a historic achievement. This milestone reflects the hard work and dedication of the entire club over the years and now culminates in this incredible result.

Importantly, the processes implemented and the quality of work would have remained the same even if the team had not qualified. That is precisely why Ekkono works to create long-lasting impact, focusing on sustainable development and growth beyond any single outcome.

Between September 4th and 7th, Ekkono officially kicked off the second season of the “EPA Future Stars” program in collaboration with the I League, with an on-site coaching education course in Bogor attended by the 18 Academy Directors and U16 Head Coaches from all First Division clubs.

The main novelty of this season is the inclusion of Academy Directors, who will follow a personalized education plan designed by Ekkono. As part of this plan, they will also spend two weeks in Spain, immersing themselves in professional LaLiga clubs and experiencing first-hand the daily work of Academy Directors.

To launch the program, an Academy Director Workshop was held, combining both theoretical and practical components. The theoretical sessions focused on key aspects of academy leadership, such as the role of the Academy Director during training sessions, how to design strategies and set objectives, the use of evaluation indicators, and the review of technical documents related to game model, talent management, content planning, and methodology.

The practical sessions included observing a training session to analyze coaching behavior and task design, as well as an Ekkono-led training session where Ekkono coaches explained the concepts addressed in each exercise and how the session was structured.

Following the on-site education in Bogor, three Ekkono coaches will spend 22 days visiting the 18 First Division clubs, in order to observe their working methods, deliver individual reports, and coach the best U16 players from each team.

With this second season, Ekkono and the I League continue to strengthen their collaboration and reaffirm their commitment to developing young talent and enhancing academy structures.

The Korea Professional Football League (K League), led by President Kwon Oh-gap, organised the ‘K League Technical Director Seminar’ at the ON City Hotel in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, on 1–2 September. The seminar was organised to facilitate the comprehensive implementation of the Technical Director System, which is due to take effect in 2026, and to enhance the practical competencies of league and club officials. Around 70 executives and staff members from the league and affiliated clubs attended, highlighting the importance of the initiative.

The seminar was led by Spanish coach Julián Marín Bazalo, an Ekkono Licensed Coach, who trained participants in the key aspects of the Ekkono Method — a methodology employed by leading European clubs as well as national federations worldwide. His instruction addressed critical areas relevant to the role of Technical Director, including the formulation of club strategy, the design of game models, training methodologies, player scouting protocols, and the cultivation of club culture. Beyond being an outstanding Head Coach, Julián Marín is a UEFA Pro License holder with extensive expertise in the Ekkono Method and has contributed to the design and implementation of medium- to long-term football development programmes in Spain, Sweden, Thailand, and Japan.

In light of the seminar findings, the league will produce a ‘Technical Director Handbook’. This publication aims to stabilise and institutionalise the Technical Director System, and to foster a sustainable operational model for each club. It is anticipated that the handbook will yield long-term benefits for the collective advancement and professionalisation of the K League.

In the same week Aberdeen FC was crowned Scottish Cup champions after a memorable victory over Celtic FC, the club has announced the extension of its partnership with Ekkono for an additional two seasons.

While lifting the trophy draws a lot of attention, it as a result of the consistent and strategic work being done behind the scenes. Under the leadership of the Director of Football Steven Gunn and Head Coach Jimmy Thelin, and with the dedication of academy coaches, first-team staff, and the wider club workforce, Aberdeen FC is building a strong and sustainable foundation for long-term success.

Ekkono has been working closely with the club for over a year, contributing daily to the improvement of player performance, video analysis, scouting processes, and staff development. The collaboration aims to support the club’s ambitious sporting project by implementing effective methodologies and fostering continuous improvement across all areas.

Seizing this moment of celebration and positive momentum, Aberdeen FC has announced the renewal of its agreement with the Ekkono Method. The extended partnership will allow Ekkono to continue supporting the development of players, enhancing technical processes, and providing guidance to all staff involved in driving the club forward.

This renewed commitment reflects both parties’ shared vision of long-term growth and excellence on and off the pitch.

IFK Värnamo has decided to bring Ekkono back on board in a strategic move aimed at enhancing the performance of their first team. Throughout the current season, the club’s head coach (Ferran Sibila) and his staff will receive comprehensive support from Ekkono in game analysis, individual player development, and mentorship focused on both collective and individual aspects of the team.

The standout feature of this collaboration is the implementation of a Individual Player Performance Program (IPPP) for first-team players. As part of this initiative, players will regularly participate in private video analysis sessions. These sessions are designed to ensure consistent performance improvement and help players internalize the specific tactical concepts emphasized by the head coach and his staff.

The partnership marks a return to a shared vision between IFK Värnamo and Ekkono, rooted in performance, player development and tactical excellence.

Malmö FF has entered into an agreement with Ekkono to enhance the training and development of its coaching staff.

The program, scheduled to commence in April 2025, will focus on providing guidance and education to the Swedish club’s academy coaches in key areas such as methodology, basic fundamental, and individual fundamentals per position.

Furthermore, Ekkono-licensed coach Julián Marín has recently joined the first-team staff as an assistant coach, further strengthening Malmö FF’s efforts to enhance its performance.

This partnership marks another significant milestone for Ekkono in European football, as it collaborates with a successful and highly professional club like Malmö FF.

The Indonesian League (PT Liga Indonesia Baru) has entrusted the Ekkono Method to lead and manage the Elite Pro Academy Future Stars Development Program, whose main objective is to improve the performance of the country’s young players and to educate their coaches on how to properly train the individual development of footballers.

The program will involve the participation of the 18 clubs from Indonesia’s First Division, which, along with Ekkono, will select the three best U-16 players from each team to focus on.

Throughout the season, these 54 players (three from each of the 18 teams) will receive four video analysis reports (IPPP), which will identify areas for improvement and strengths to develop.

Additionally, the 18 Indonesian clubs participating in the program will receive three visits from Ekkono coaches at their facilities. During these visits, the Ekkono coaches will provide coachin education for each club’s coaches, present video analysis reports to the selected players and conduct individualized on-field training sessions with them, and observe the club’s U-16 matches, offering technical feedback and guidance, among other tasks.

Finally, during the last visit to Indonesia, the best player from each team (18 in total) will be selected to travel to Spain for a two-week stay, where they will train with some of the best clubs and academies in the country.

Additionally, a coach from each team will accompany the delegation and will enjoy two weeks of theoretical and practical coaching education delivered by Ekkono in Barcelona.

Bethesda Soccer Club, based in Maryland,  is one of the leading youth football organizations in the U.S., known for producing collegiate and professional-level talent. With over 40 years of history, Bethesda is dedicated to providing the highest standard of football education and competition, serving players from U7 to U19.

This partnership with Ekkono Method aims to elevate the club’s player and coach development efforts. Ekkono will provide on-site and online educational opportunities to ensure Bethesda SC coaches receive a comprehensive, 360º approach to the methodology. Additionally, Ekkono will organize diverse activities throughout the season, ensuring that all players have the chance to be trained by an Ekkono Licensed Coach.

Agreement Highlights:

• An Ekkono Licensed Coach will be coaching one Bethesda SC team.
• Bethesda SC coaches will gain access to the Ekkono Coaches Academy for essential online training and will have an Ekkono Licensed Coach assess them on-site for live feedback.
• Player activities will include Ekkono Camps, Spain Tours, and Ekkono Clinics.

This collaboration is set to further enhance Bethesda SC’s reputation as a top-tier development program, providing new opportunities for both players and coaches.

IFK Värnamo will begin utilizing the Ekkono PRO Data system this September to maximize the performance of its first men’s team.

The Swedish club has acquired a license that includes Individual Player Performance Programs (IPPPs) tailored for first-team players. This advanced video analysis service focuses on individual player development, providing detailed insights and personalized improvement plans. Additionally, the coaching staff will receive regular team performance reports, aimed at identifying areas for improvement and highlighting key strengths to be enhanced.

With this initiative, IFK Värnamo is making a strong commitment to continued growth, ensuring the best possible support for its players and coaching staff.

With the recent arrival of Jimmy Thelin as the new First Team Manager of Aberdeen FC, and driven by the Club’s ambition to consistently challenge for major honours, Aberdeen FC has engaged with Ekkono Soccer Services.

The collaboration will see the provision of support to Aberdeen FC, with Jimmy reunited with Fran Rubio – who he worked with during his successful period at Elfsborg – seconded from Ekkono to Aberdeen FC to be part of the First Team coaching structure, with a specific focus on individual player development and implementation of the game model.

Steven Gunn, Director of Football Aberdeen FC: “Jimmy enjoyed much success through Elfsborg’s collaboration with Ekkono, with their support being a key component of Elfsborg’s positive progress on the pitch. Alongside supporting the execution of the game model, Fran will have a key focus on players within the transition phase between Academy and First Team football, providing focused individual support to our emerging talent and younger First Team players.”

Miquel Farrerons, CEO Ekkono Soccer Services: “It is an honour to join forces with such a powerful project at a historic club like Aberdeen FC. We will give our best to achieve the desired results.”