Leif Tsolis into a new position as business developer.
For Norwegian version, read HERE
Current sports director and head coach of Mallorca Toppfotball, Leif Tsolis, moves to a new position at Mallorca Toppfotball. He has over the last 10 years built up what today is Mallorca Toppfotball while he has working in top clubs like Vålerenga and Mjøndalen. Read a longer depth interview about the evolution of Mallorca Toppfotball and the thoughts and aspirations Tsolis have for the future.
Why do you take on a position as business developer?
- Because Mallorca Toppfotball is developing rapidly and we want to expand Mallorca Toppfotball in many areas. We want our positive development to continue and that the trend we are in should persist for a long time. We are keen to build a solid platform and a business that is economically sustainable, which shall be in accordance with the objectives and visions Mallorca Toppfotball have for the future.
What is the job of a business developer in Mallorca Toppfotball?
- To make sure that Mallorca Toppfotball is in constantly development and expanding. We are fully aware that we are an unique and attractive concept, which we want to take very good care of. It is about seeing possibilities and thinking development, and exploit our own potential. Beyond that, have skilled people to what is happening in the present, so we need to have a business developer who constantly focus on what happens in the future. In 1 year, 3 years and 5 years. We have a clear and long-term business plan that we want to implement.
What do you mean Mallorca Toppfotball is rapidly developingt?
- In less than a year we have gone from 1 to 10 coaches and managers working in Mallorca Toppfotball full time, part time and with commitments. On previous academies, we had an average of 15 players, while we are currently approaching 40 players, when we include both the Norwegian academy players and the local Spanish players. With nearly 50 people at work daily, the development has been great.
- Half of our players are women, and we have involved spanish players as well. This is something completely new. We have a Spanish / Norwegian women's team and a men's team consisting of mostly Norwegians, but it have touches of Spanish players. Both teams play in the Spanish league. We have also extended the length of the academy to 9 months, although we still offer 2 and 6 months academies.
- Today's concept is of a completely different scale than before, where we stand for the operation of a medium-sized Norwegian business, and simultaneously running an official spanish football club. Conducting a Spanish football club have totally different guidelines and requirements than in Norway.
- To be in constant development is very positive, and it also means constant change. It requires that we constantly need to be open to change, and that we must be positive to changes that can make us better. For us this is very stimulating and motivating.
What has been the recipe for success?
- The reason for it is composed. Firstly, we run professional commitment to football in Alcudia for almost 20 years. We have built up an enormous good network of contacts in Mallorca, and we know of the Spanish culture and the Spanish system. We work incredibly well with the community down here. Secondly, we have had a clear strategy and action plan that we have been loyal to, and we have been working active and dedicated in relation to it. We have been good at implementing the plans we have laid. And thirdly, we have been committed to building a team of talented and skilled people.
How would you describe the team you have built up?
- Everyone in the team is unique. On their own way. Very good personal qualities. Highly skilled in their field. Common to all is that they have a burning commitment, enormous capacity for work and an inner drive for us to succeed. They always put the project in front of themselves and are good at working with each other. This is what they want to do in life, and they all have sacrificed more than what can be characterized as prudent to do. They have sacrificed everything from working in top clubs, apartments, cars, girlfriends, family and friends. None of us can afford to not succeed. The passion is our greatest strength.
Why is it the name changed from Scandinavian Football School to Mallorca Toppfotball?
- One of the first things we did was changing the name from Scandinavian Football School to Mallorca Toppfotball, because we wanted a stronger identity for our business. Mallorca Toppfotball say more about what the core of our business is. Mallorca Toppfotball tells the outside world clearly that we do top football in Mallorca. This was an important step for our identity and the future branding.
In what way should Mallorca Toppfotball expand in the future?
- We want to expand ourselves internationally and have strategies on how we should do it. Through three different projects, we will develop academies to include more countries. Initially it will be to strengthen its position in Norway, while we start work to promote us in the Nordic countries. We must also start small in a few selected countries in Europe, but we are keen to take it gradually. But going to initiate processes in both Scandinavia and Europe as early as next year. Project Norway, project Nordic and project Europe will be our most important priority in the future. By extension it shall concurrently drive Spanish club development, and our academies and Spanish club football will always be our niche product.
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Other areas of focus will be the Mallorca Toppfotball (academy) is going to invite football academies and fotball courses to a tournament in Mallorca. F.C. Mallorca Toppfotball (Spanish club) will invite teams to a tournament in Mallorca.
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Along the way we present several offers such as football scholarships, experience schemes in connection with MIC Cup, summer academy and a goalie camp.
Does this mean you should not be a coach on Mallorca Toppfotball anymore?
- That is right. The plan was that I would be sporting director and head coach of Mallorca Toppfotball the coming years. In a development phase it was necessary that I covered several roles, but the plan was always that someone else would take over the sporting after a few years. What we thought would take three years to build, has now been built up in less than a year. It is of course positive, but it change the situation internally. I see it as important that I not coach in my own project, provided it is not extremely necessary. And it is not now, but rather the opposite.
You have been a football coach for almost all your active career. Are you retiring as a coach for good?
- To say that I retire as a coach, will be very drastically. I just think it is important not to be trainer in my own project. It is the main point my.
- Although it is feasible to combine, because I am not place bound anymore, it takes a lot for me to take another coach job now. Being a football coach is a special profession that is very often all about timing, and how exciting the job offer is. Åge Hareide retired as a coach after the Viking job in 2012. A few years later, he had success with Malmø in the Champions League and is currently coaching the Danish national team. It is a good example of how one should never say never, and that in football, anything can happen.
