By Andrew Atkinson EXCLUSIVE

Summer football clinic in the Vega Baja

Spain international football star San Javier born Marta Peñalver is planning to stage a summer football clinic in the Vega Baja in 2022.

“We could do a clinic for a couple of days. Technification of futsal or something like that,” said Marta.

“It would be to set up a project and give it shape. I think it could turn out very well and highlight women’s football,” said Florence based Marta, who plays football in Italy for Serie A Citta di Falconara.

Racing San Miguel Femenino

A presentation match of Racing San Miguel CF Femenino took place in October 2021, with spectators packing the stand.

“After training hard for three months a presentation match on October 16 was staged with RSM Femenino playing a friendly so all Sanmigueleros fans got to know team members of a new sports project in the town,” said a spokesperson.

Match action RSM Femenino presentation match. Photo: Helena Campillo.

Physical trainer Eneko Delgado Deacosta has left the coaching staff of Valencia 1st Regional Group 9 Racing San Miguel first team and will continue to lead the women’s section.

“We want to thank Eneko for his involvement, his effort and his work during these years, which have helped Racing San Miguel meet its objectives day by day.

“We wish him the best of luck in his professional endeavours, which we are convinced will continue,” added the club spokesperson.

Primera División de la Liga Fútbol Femenino

The Primera División de la Liga de Fútbol Femenino (Primera Iberdrola, formerly Liga Femenina Iberdrola) is the highest level of league competition for women’s football in Spain.

Previously known as Superliga Femenina, División de Honor and Liga Nacional, it is the women’s equivalent of the men’s La Liga and run by the Real Federación Española de Fútbol (RFEF).

As one of the top six national leagues ranked by Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) coefficient, it is considered one of the most important women’s leagues in Europe.

Starting with the 2021–22 edition, as determined by the UEFA women’s coefficient, the top three teams will qualify for the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

In 2019, there were nearly 71,000 female players registered in the Spanish Football Federation.

Liga Ellas

In June 2021 a big step for women football in Spain was made with the Spanish Higher Sports Council official approval of a professional women’s football league.

Season 2021-2022, Liga Ellas kicked off with 16 teams, who can jointly organise their competition and generate their income, including selling television rights.

Clubs are legally bound to provide the women players with the same basic conditions as male professional footballers, for most female players leading to an improvement of working conditions.

“It was a very important day for sports in general,” said David Aganzo, President of Spanish player union AFE and Board Member of FIFPRO.

Liga Ellas is the first ever professional women sports league in Spain: “We have broken a barrier for equality in establishing this league.

“It would not have been possible without the collective bargaining agreement we agreed with in 2020 and in which AFE played a very important role,” added Aganzo.