06.03.2014, 03:01
O'Callaghan: "When I was a player I had more free time"

BEHIND THE SCENES: The FC Barcelona legend never really left the club after bringing an end to his playing career and now has a major role in the club's management

O'Callaghan: "When I was a player I had more free time"

From the court to the office, from the ball to the computer, from training sessions to meetings, this is the new lifestyle of Xavi O'Callaghan, a new stage he chose and which has brought happiness, because he is still working at the club he loves. 

In January 2005, O'Callaghan decided to bring his handball career to an end. The motivation for training was not the same as before and he made it very clear that the day his spark for playing was gone, he would have to stop. And so he did, five months later he gave up handball and the club retired his shirt with number 4 in Palau Blaugrana.

During his time as player he wanted to study a telecommunications degree, but finally decided to be a professional handball player, because he thought he would have his whole life to study and wanted to dedicate himself fully to succeed in this sport. 

Finally he decided to study business and combined it with his daily training. When he thought that his handball days were coming to the end, he decided to study a master’s degree in sports management.  

Staying in the family

After his retirement he had the opportunity to fulfil one of his dreams: to study abroad. But he could not do an Erasmus, because Barça offered him a job in the club. 

At first, O’Callaghan joined the finance department. However, this changed very soon, because with the departure of Joan Marin, who was in the office for more than 20 years, he became the manager of the handball club. 

“If I had played one year more, because physically I was fine and I was only 33-years old, I most likely would not be in this job now,” said O'Callaghan. He was in the right place at the right time.

It’s fair for O'Callaghan to complain that he has no spare time. He is manager of handball, futsal and roller hockey clubs as well as playing a role in many domestic and international handball boards. 

“When a player retires, they always say: from now I will have more free time to spend with the family, but we lie. When I was a player I had more free time than now,” joked O'Callaghan. 

His daily life has changed dramatically and he spends the majority of hours locked up in his office, that it is located within the club offices in front of Camp Nou. Oka, as his colleagues and friends call him, has the good fortune to accompany his children to school before going to work, but usually does not return home from the office until late.

Nowadays his tasks are to develop and control the budget of handball, roller hockey and futsal, relations with federations and player agents, manage financial signings, and playing “Tetris”. 

What is this “Tetris” game? Palau Blaugrana plays host to basketball, handball, futsal and roller hockey, and he must coordinate the schedules of all matches: "It is much more difficult than people might think. An example is when there is a handball Champions League match, no other team can play that day because we have to put a special floor on. I also have to think about the television schedules and the requirements of the federations".

Sometimes he must make decisions that are not pleasant. However he is very aware of this situation. 

“I understand that people might think I am the nemesis, but also understand that I am an employee of the club and I have to do what the club tell me. However there are minimal problems with players and coaches because most are aware of the situation,” said O'Callaghan. 

Now he is used to this kind of situation, but when he was called to take charge of the management for the first time it took over.

“The first year was difficult because the players thought I was a friend. For that reason I marked a distance. I know it is a weakness to me, but if things go wrong I do not want it to affect personal relationships. I always defend the club because they pay me,” explained the 42-year-old.

The ambitions of the club have not changed much since the extremely successful playing days O’Callaghan enjoyed. Barcelona has built a team with the best players in the world and in order to win every trophy and coach Xavi Pascual said at the beginning of the season that he had the best team in the world. 

“The results will tell if this team will build a new era. One by one these players are better than our dream team players, but as a team, the dream team won most of the time. Winning is hard, but to continue winning is much more difficult,” said O'Callaghan. 

Comparing the two teams is impossible, because they were different times and the magnitude of the titles is currently unmatchable, but there is harmony in the current team and their good results can also make history.

The history of FC Barcelona is well kept in the memories of Palau Blaugrana, the venue where Barça’s handball club achieved the vast majority of titles. Everyone talks about the magic of Palau, a special climate that is created in special occasions and helped to win many trophies. Who does not remember those three consecutive finals against Badel Zagreb or comebacks against Kiel and Ciudad Real? But Palau has 42 years of history behind it and the arena has become old and is not in the ideal conditions for one of the best clubs in the world. 

“I see it as necessary to build a new arena, because it is obsolete. It is a great arena for some things, but for others becomes obsolete. 

“A new building would provide more value to the sports. I do not see the new Palau Blaugrana coming soon, but there is an election promise and I’m sure they will fulfil it,” said O’Callaghan. 

This election promise was made by the current Barcelona’s president, Sandro Rosell, and his mandate ends in 2016. The club has prepared several reports, but that is pending on the Camp Nou, and whether they will renovate or build a new stadium in another location, this will also affect the future of this new Palau Blaugrana.

A dream to fulfill

Xavier O’Callaghan has an ambition to bring the VELUX EHF FINAL4 to Barcelona in the future. 

"When we will have the necessary support, we will organise a FINAL4 in Barcelona. If the club has a new arena, we should aim to do that. If it done well and is a good product, it does not matter where it is played or who plays in it. 

“In Cologne they have succeeded and it been very difficult to find somewhere similar to the LANXESS arena. The dream is to have a FINAL4 in Barcelona with a full arena,” concluded O’Callaghan.

TEXT: Adrià Barrio / cor