Alexander Vidal nostalgically recalls his first steps in the world of football, playing on the streets of Pedro Aguirre Cerda, Santiago, with school friends and neighbors. His passion for the sport also extended to his church’s football school, where he played for the Santa Fe club, which reached the Third Division in Chile.

In 2015, Alexander finished high school without a clear idea of what to study. However, an unexpected trip to Barcelona in 2016, won through a 2 vs. 2 football championship, changed his perspective. In Barcelona, Alexander had the opportunity to train at La Masía and watch a Champions League match, where he became fascinated with European football and decided he wanted to become a coach.

Alexander’s father, also a coach at the church’s football school, played a crucial role in his development. He suggested that Alexander study to become a coach at INAF (National Institute of Football, Sports, and Physical Activity), where Alexander obtained his coaching license. This decision solidified his path in football, allowing him to study for four years and specialize in youth and professional football.

Alexander’s interest in MBP School of Coaches arose during his first year at INAF, alongside his friend Diego Luengo. Throughout their studies, Alexander and Diego saved money and explored study options in Europe, ultimately finding MBP School of Coaches. They were drawn to the methodology and focus of MBP School’s Master in High-Performance Football.

Alexander’s expectations of MBP School were exceeded. He particularly appreciated the individual and collective fundamentals, unique knowledge not found elsewhere. The structure of training sessions and planning also impressed him, providing valuable tools for his coaching career.

Currently, Alexander works at Paulista FC, a team in the Campeonato Paulista Serie B in Brazil. He has maximized this opportunity by developing training tasks that have positively impacted the team’s results. The experience in Brazil has been enriching, allowing him to apply the knowledge acquired at MBP School.

At Paulista FC, Alexander is responsible for preparing small-sided drills and preliminary tasks before the main session led by the head coach. The methodologies learned at MBP School have been crucial in designing exercises that reflect the head coach Fausto’s objectives. The results in matches, including a recent 5-0 victory, have validated his approach and strengthened the credibility and trust in his methods.

“The work I have done has been well-received. And yes, the results have shown in matches where we have seen the work I prepared reflected. Recently, we won five to zero, and we had done complementary work on shooting from outside the area and forwards attacking the rebound, regardless of whether it rebounded or not. We scored another goal from an exercise we worked on during a speed training session, an MD -2, where we had to switch the ball to the opposite side. A direct play switch. We worked a lot on that situation of drawing the opposition to free the opposite side, and we scored a great goal”. 

Alexander plans to continue working with Fausto, with whom he shares a similar vision of the game. In the long term, he hopes to return to Chile and work with a high-performance professional team, dreaming of an opportunity at Colo Colo. His passion and dedication promise a bright future in the world of football.