Brisbane Roar can today announce that experienced youth coach, Borja Souto will arrive at the football club as the new head coach of the Brisbane Roar ‘B’ team.
For Souto, who holds a UEFA A Pro License, his journey through football has seen him coach in Spain, Türkiye, Israel and China, allowing him to specialize in the development of young footballers during a crucial period of their careers.
Souto’s role will see him lead the Brisbane Roar ‘B’ team, which will serve as the football club’s official reserve side and launching pad for the best up and coming talent in Queensland, who will gain access to professional facilities, elite level coaching and train daily amongst Brisbane Roar’s Isuzu UTE A-League Men squad.
The ‘B’ team will be positioned within the club as a key pillar in our developmental pipeline and act as a bridge between youth and professional football. The championed homegrown talent will be subject to a top tier professional environment every single day across both Meakin Park and Brendale training facilities with the ability for those who excel to be called directly into the club’s Isuzu UTE A-League Men’s team for training and competitive matches.
Under the watchful eye of Souto, the ‘B’ team will be closely aligned with the first team squad and head coach Michael Valkanis, further extending the breadth of players preparing for top tier professional football. It is the aim that under the leadership of Souto, Roar fans will see more local talent, such as Lucas Herrington, Thomas Waddingham, Macklin Freke, Noah Maieroni, Quinn MacNicol, Sam Klein and James Durrington to name a few, transition into the first team and beyond.
Speaking on joining the club as ‘B’ team Head Coach, Borja Souto said: “I am extremely pleased to be taking on the role of Head Coach for Brisbane Roar B and want to thank Michael and the football club, for their belief in me.
“I am excited to be here in Brisbane and to start immediately, with the aim of taking more great Queensland talent and preparing them to become professionals here at Brisbane Roar – Something that I am very confident can be achieved.”
Isuzu UTE A-League Men’s Head Coach, Michael Valkanis said: “During my time working with Borja at Adana Demirspor and Hapoel tel Aviv, I saw firsthand his expertise and skills. It is because of this that I have no doubt he is perfectly suited to the role of head coach for Brisbane Roar B.
Brisbane Roar B isn’t just an NPL team, but rather an extension of our A-League Men’s squad and I look forward to working alongside Borja here at the club to develop the best Queensland has to offer.”
Brisbane Roar Chief Executive Officer, Kaz Patafta said: “I want to welcome Borja to the football club in what is a crucial role. His announcement, along with the creation of Brisbane Roar ‘B’ is a statement of how vital our development pathways are at the football club.
“With access to the best of the best here in Queensland, Brisbane Roar ‘B’ is without doubt the place to be for aspiring young footballers here in Queensland who want to be immersed amongst a professional environment every day. I look forward to watching Borja develop and nurture the best Queensland talent.”
Roar can confirm that Souto will oversee his first session with the Brisbane Roar B team when their pre season commences in November.
