News: Christian Gross, top Football Manager, is impressed by La Cala.

One of Europe’s top football managers has said that in over 20 years as a coach he has never encountered better training facilities than those of La Cala Resort in Mijas, Málaga. Christian Gross was speaking at the end of a 10-day training camp with his current club, Young Boys Bern, one of the top sides in Switzerland and Champions League qualifiers last season. Gross previously coached: Tottenham Hotspur, Grasshopper Zurich, FC Basel, VfB Stuttgart and FC Wil.

BSC Young Boys at Hotel Main door (La Cala Resort)

It was the first time Gross had brought a squad to La Cala but had previously used facilities in Marbella, Estepona and at the La Manga complex in Murcia. However, he says the Mijas destination was far superior to the others. “The facilities are ideal and I’ve never experienced better. I have nothing to complain about and am 100% satisfied. The football pitch is perfect as are the spa and hotel. We have exclusive use of the facilities and the excellent staff was very helpful and dedicated to our needs. To have everything you need close together is another bonus and we will definitely be back next year.”

BSC Young Boys currently lie in third place in the Swiss league and Gross says that some new signings should help them close the gap on the leaders. “Basel are dominating the league and we have top get close to them. We have made a few signings that will strengthen our squad. We have to develop our players in Switzerland. It is not comparable to the situation in La Liga here in Spain or in the Premier League in the UK that attract all the best players in Europe.”

Over the past 20 years, La Cala Resort has developed into the biggest golf and leisure destination in Spain with 3x18 hole courses, a luxury hotel & spa plus a David Leadbetter Academy. The resort is ideally located in the heart of the Costa del Sol between Marbella and Mijas and only 30 minutes from Málaga Airport.

Published: 17/02/12