Qatari football will keep growing, says Chico Flores

Chico Flores became one of the youngest Spanish players to join the Qatar Stars League when he moved to Lekhwiya last year.

By Sports Reporter/DohaHad he not been a football player, Chico Flores says he would have been an architect or a commercial pilot. In fact he has studied architecture, design and even began a private pilot license before a move to England temporarily shelved those ambitions. The way in which he has constructed his career has been equally adrenaline-rich for the tall Andalusian defender who names Franz Beckenbauer as a role model. He has played in the top division in Spain, Italy, England and Qatar, winning with Swansea the first trophy in a hundred years of ‘Swans’ history at Wembley, and then the Qatar Stars League in his first season with Lekhwiya. Just over a year ago, the Spanish central defender moved to Qatar, becoming one of the youngest Spanish players to join the local league at the age of 27. “I knew that with the World Cup in Qatar, they wanted to do new projects and to professionalise even more the football here,” Chico Flores told www.sc.qa in an extensive interview, in which he also named former coach Michael Laudrup as a decisive factor in his move to Qatari football. “So I came here and I am very happy. In the year that I have been here I have seen the level increase and the league and players become more professional, and it will continue to improve every year until the World Cup. Ever since my arrival I have been received exceptionally by everyone here.”  This year he will welcome in Qatar two illustrious players from Barcelona, who will add a new page to the rivalry between Qatar’s traditional giants. FC Barcelona captain Xavi Hernandez has joined Al Sadd, while Espanyol’s Sergio Garcia is the new star striker at Al Rayyan. Both teams will look to challenge for silverware this season, but with trademark confidence Flores says he is not looking to give up any of the two trophies he won in Qatar just yet: “We will fight from the first game to the last, it will be difficult to defend the two titles but we will give it our best.” As Flores took time to visit the offices of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), he learned about the five stadiums currently under construction, and engaged with the progress which Qatar has made towards 2022. “I have been very impressed. I always like to inform myself, because I love football. The World Cup calls my attention. To see how well-organised they work in the preparation of the tournament here, I think it can be the best World Cup of all time. Because of the football, the stadiums, the technology, I think Qatar is going to be one of the best countries in the world in the future. Before I thought differently, but now that I have been here a while I have changed my opinion and I wish Qatar the best in the world for all of these efforts,” Flores added.  Xavi highlightThe Lekhwiya defender looks forward to another successful season starting on September 11 this year, and already relishes the task of facing Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez: “Even if we don’t face each other in the field directly because I play in defence and he is a midfielder, I will do my best to hold a high defensive line and help my midfielders steal the ball from him. He will do his best for his team, and I will do my best for mine.”Aside from defending the QSL title, Flores is also intent on going all the way in the continental competition, where Lekhwiya are currently preparing for the quarter-finals against Saudi side Al Hilal: “The Asian Champions League is very difficult. You play against the best teams from a lot of different countries. In the league you have more regular matches, but here one bad match or a sending off can be crucial. We want to play the quarter-finals, win, and reach the final, although we know it will be difficult.” A young Flores began his career in football at an early age, joining Cadiz, the team of his home town, when he was only 16. Soon after that he moved to the second team of F.C. Barcelona, where he had a chance to meet and train with Xavi, and later joined the Spanish first division side Almeria. On the achievement of playing top division football throughout his career in four different countries, he says: “Only getting there is very difficult, but staying at that level is also very complicated.”He also explained his nickname, which has turned into the name on his shirt: “When I was a kid people called me Chico because I always played with older kids. This stuck on and when my grandfather, who always called me Chico, died, I took his surname Flores and put it on my jersey.” Flores also wears lucky shin pads with images of his family on them, and fondly remembers one of his most memorable moments in a remarkable career so far: “When we played at Anfield in the cup, and I scored the first goal in the best stadium in England and in front of the best fans.”  This season the high-flying Flores has again set himself lofty goals both in domestic and continental competitions. And with his impressive record so far, there should be no doubting that the man who once wanted to become a pilot can steer his club towards further silverware.