Some people leave Valencia saying they will come back. Filippo actually does.
The Italian teacher and football coach first arrived in 2021, when masks were still part of the classroom routine. Five years and six visits later, Valencia has become a second home and Euroace a familiar part of every return.
His first experience involved long days of Spanish classes, plenty of grammar and the challenge of understanding when to use por and para. Since then, Spanish has become much more than a holiday skill. It has helped him connect with people in Valencia, learn from coaches at Villarreal CF and move closer to his goal of developing an international career in football.
We spoke with Filippo about why he keeps returning, how his Spanish has changed and where he hopes football will take him next.
Could you introduce yourself, tell us about your work and explain why you decided to come to Spain to study Spanish?
Filippo: I think the real question is why I decided to come to Valencia, because I always return.
A friend recommended the city to me. His name is Emilio, and I met him in Malta in 2017, when we were attending an English school during a holiday. He told me, “From what I know about you, come to Valencia. You’ll have fun here.”
I chose Valencia because I needed a city that could offer me a bit of everything. I work as a teacher and a football coach, so my season is very busy. From the end of August until the end of June, I have school and football matches, with very little time to rest.
Fortunately, I have around 40 days of holiday. During that time, I want to relax, meet new people and enjoy different activities. Valencia is perfect for that. There are events such as the Valencia Language Exchange, running clubs and many opportunities to meet people through sport.
I did not know anyone when I first arrived. Euroace helped me because the classes had an international community, and the people there became my first friends. From that starting point, I began discovering Valencia and meeting people in many other ways too.
How long have you been coming to Euroace? It has already been five years, hasn’t it?
Filippo: This is my fifth year and my sixth visit. The first time was in 2021, during COVID. We were wearing masks in class. A lot of time has passed since then.
What have you enjoyed most about living in Valencia?
Filippo: The people are very sociable and open, which is what I need. I come from a region where the mentality can be quite closed and people think mainly about work.
Here, I feel that I can be myself and show my personality. People are open, so it is easy to meet them and make friends.
You have returned to Euroace over several years. What makes you want to come back to the school?
Filippo: It is a place where I have grown. During my first year, Estefa was my teacher and I did not speak Spanish fluently. I think my level was still very basic.
We worked a lot on grammar, and I had around six hours of classes every day. I studied many hours that first year, and that was when I really developed my Spanish.
I continue returning because all the teachers are very kind. It is a place I enjoy coming back to, and it feels like a family.
In recent years, I have only booked one week of classes because I now know Valencia better and like to do a mixture of different things. I also no longer need to begin my Spanish from zero.
It shows!
Filippo: Thank you!
Have you noticed a significant improvement in your Spanish since your first visit?
Filippo: Yes, of course. When I think about how I arrived in 2021, I did not even know how to use por and paracorrectly.
I think I have improved a lot. There is still more to learn, of course, because Spanish is not easy.
How has your experience been with the teachers and the rest of the Euroace team?
Filippo: All the teachers are different, and they bring their own personalities to their work. I really like that.
They are excellent professionals, but they are also good people. They teach with empathy. When I am at Euroace, I feel at peace and able to be myself. That is very important to me.
You are a football coach, and last year you also spent some time at Villarreal CF. Why did you decide to take part, and how was the experience?
Filippo: I already work as a teacher and football coach, but I have another dream. I would like to become a coach at an international level.
I had the opportunity to spend a week taking part in the Coach Development programme. It allowed me to understand how an international club manages and develops its players.
I learned how to design training exercises and football programmes, and I became familiar with Villarreal’s approach to working with players. It was very useful because it showed me where I could improve as a coach.
Coaching is not only about technique and tactics. Psychology and leadership are also extremely important. The experience helped me improve in all those areas.
What did you enjoy most about the experience?
Filippo: It was important to see how professionally the players train. The coaches are also very well prepared and know how to develop the younger players’ talent.
Every player dreams of playing for clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona or Villarreal. Seeing how that development works from inside the club was very valuable.
Did you notice many differences between coaching in Spain and Italy?
Filippo: Yes, it is completely different. In my opinion, Italian football is currently going through a difficult period. We are struggling to produce enough talented players, which probably means that something is not working well in our development system.
Italy is beginning to adopt some ideas from Spain. The methodology used here helps players develop and make better decisions during matches.
When people think about Italian football, they often think about catenaccio, defending and tactics. There has traditionally been less attention on developing individual talent. At the moment, I think Spain is producing better players.
Did your Spanish help you professionally during your time at Villarreal?
Filippo: Yes. Understanding someone when they speak to you is extremely important because it means you can respond.
Sometimes I can understand a football exercise just by watching it. However, when someone explains it, Spanish allows me to understand all the details.
Everything I learned at Euroace and continued studying at home was important during that experience.
Why is continuing to learn Spanish important to you?
Filippo: I have a dream, although I know dreams can be difficult to achieve. I would like to apply for a master’s degree at the Real Madrid Graduate School to continue my training as a football coach.
Achieving a C1 qualification in Spanish would be very useful, and I also want to improve my English. It is an international programme taught in Spanish and English, so having a high level in both languages would be important.
Completing the master’s degree would increase the visibility of my professional profile and help me build a more international career. Studying with Real Madrid would be a major opportunity because it is one of the best clubs in the world.
Would you eventually like to work as a coach in Spain?
Filippo: I am happy with my current work in Italy, but progressing there can be difficult because there are many barriers. I think it is easier to develop as a coach in Spain, so yes, I would consider working here.
I would also consider other countries, such as the United States. There are several places outside Italy where a coach can build a career.
In Italy, coaching is not always treated as a proper profession. It is often a passion that provides a small salary, but not enough to live on. The money helps, but it is not a complete solution.
What advice would you give someone considering moving to another country to study a language?
Filippo: First of all, you have to leave your comfort zone. When you do that, you develop many new skills.
You have to test yourself and find the courage to try. If you dare to do it, you can achieve many things and experience a lot of satisfaction. Be brave and give yourself the opportunity.
Finally, how would you describe your experience at Euroace in one word?
Filippo: Unique.
