 Heart and soul for Atlético
From the court to the office or even on the court and in the office, this is the new role of David Davis at VELUX EHF Champions League participant Atlético Madrid.
The wing player, former Spanish international, is the new sports director of the club after Luis Miguel Lopez left towards the end of last season.
ehfCL.com spoke to the 36-year-old about his new position, his objectives and the cooperation with coach Talant Dujshebaev.
ehfCL.com: The most important question right at the beginning: does the new job mean the end of your career?
David Davis: I don’t know right now, I have to talk with our coach Talant Dujshebaev. In first instance I am the new sport director, but if Talant wants me also to play, I will play. However, it is obvious that the career is coming to an end sometimes when you are 36.
I played eight years for the club and won three Champions League trophies. So it might be that I quit on the court. But finally it is Talant’s decision.
ehfCL.com: Was it also obvious that you would take on this job at Atlético?
David Davis: I wanted to continue in handball and to remain part of Atlético. To be sports director is a great job even though the times are hard currently, but I want to make the best of it.
ehfCL.com: What are your major tasks – more player wise or sponsor wise?
David Davis: In cooperation with Talant, who had also been intermediate sport director after Lusi Miguel left, I scout and select the players for our teams. We discuss a lot of options to find new talents like Alex Dujshebaev, Talant’s son, who joins us now.
He is the best Spanish talent and though he is only 20 he plays like he is 30, brilliant! I know Alex since he was a child. But of course I also give my heart and soul to find new sponsors for our club, which is not that easy.
ehfCL.com: Was it hard for you that right at the beginning, top guns like Ivano Balic and Kiril Lazarov left the club?
David Davis: This is sport. Now we are used to the situation that every year some top players leave Madrid. It is difficult to hold all those big names, although everybody in the club is doing their best. We have to accept the situation that nowadays Atlético is no longer among the top clubs from a financial point of view.
ehfCL.com: Regarding those changes in your squad – what are Madrid’s ambitions in the upcoming season?
David Davis: Domestically it will be much harder to get closer to FC Barcelona, as they have strengthened their squad. In the VELUX EHF Champions League it is of course our first objective to reach the Last 16. But still we hope to have the chance to make it all the way to Cologne.
Last season we were very unlucky, as finally only two goals were missing in the quarter-finals against Barcelona. This was really a bad moment to miss the VELUX EHF FINAL4 for the first time.
ehfCL.com: Your group this season is anything but easy, how do you assess your opponents?
David Davis: No, it is not easy, but we are used to the fact that we always belong to the strongest of all groups every season. Just like in every season we face THW Kiel.
ehfCL.com: You had been his player, now you are his colleague: How is your relationship with Talant Dujshebaev?
David Davis: Perfect, as he always gives full power for the club and he is always optimistic. I have big trust in him and he and our president Domingo de Mera trust each other. This trust is the key for everything at Atlético Madrid.
TEXT: Björn Pazen / cor
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