Jaume Nogués “I don’t mind saying it: Piqué hit me” Jaume Nogués “I don’t mind saying it: Piqué hit me”
How and when does Jaume Nogués become sports and general director of this surprising Andorra?
In October 2018. I don’t feel bad saying it: Piqué hit me. I have been a personal friend of Gerard since childhood. Our families are from Sant Guim de Freixenet. One day he explains to me the project he has in hand and decided to leave the family business he was in, transport, cranes and construction, which has nothing to do with football.
And what is the secret to have moved up so soon to second Division?
In the end, what you have to do is work and work. We created a club model focused on a game model. We have dedicated almost everything to the sports part in this time, and it is true that there have been many lucky moments. But there is a lot of planning behind it. It has gone faster than we had planned.
How do you decide on Andorra?
The club was not as well cared for as it should be, it was the moment and the occasion. It has gone well. Now we are in the construction of the new stadium, which is important to modernize because it is cold in Andorra and it must be adapted to the new times. And the sports city, because the player is the one who takes you to the top. And he bought Nàstic de Manresa to have more focused grassroots football.
Is everything bought with money in football? They went up two categories thanks to him.
Down, perhaps, but in Second B or First RFEF it is another story. It was rather a product of the model. Last year I thought the squad was there to save us and in the end we won the league. Until the middle of the year we believed that we were not going to go up, but it ended up happening. The First RFEF was a new category, which was not known.
A little revolution.
Something like that. We are a bit like one start up, everything has happened very fast. It is a very young club, at an organizational level I am almost the oldest person, at 42 years old. We never settle. That makes us always angry during the day. Sometimes I have to be the visible head but there are many people behind who push a lot and are very good.
And Eder Sarabia, Setién’s second in Barça and Betis, why that bet?
It has turned out very well. We have a great coach. Eder has shown it during this time.
Several ascents in a very short time. Will the last one arrive, to First?
I don’t like to talk about that goal, but of course the dream exists.
There are those who complain that they play with an advantage because in Andorra less taxes are paid.
It is true that Andorra has better tax laws than in Spain, but LaLiga did not put a salary limit corrector: each euro that we spend is as if it were 1.38, according to them to put a little more equality for taxes. You have to understand why, although we were surprised.
Would you like Piqué to retire in Andorra?
I can’t get wet in that, it hasn’t been talked about. But for me Gerard is still one of the best central defenders in Europe. It’s very difficult or impossible… although I wish I could play here, it would help us a lot.