ODISHA FC HAVE SIGNED renowned Spanish forward and world football legend David Villa as the head of their Global Football Operations.
Villa, who retired from his playing career last year, is the president of DV7 Group, which has two branches in DV7 Soccer - an academy - and DV7 Management, which describes itself as a 'premium agency focused on marketing, digital communication and player representation.' He is also named as an owner of a New York-based club called Queensboro FC, which is undergoing a launching process before it begins playing in the USL Championship, the second tier league of America.
The 2010 World Cup winner and all-time highest World Cup goalscorer for Spain will take on the additional responsibilities of serving at Odisha FC's football committee, along with two of his DV7 colleagues Victor Onate and Josep Gombau. Gombau previously served at Odisha FC as the head coach during the majority of the 2019-20 season.
Odisha FC, who finished at the bottom of the table in ISL last season, are looking for a major turnaround in the 2021-22 season, and the trio from the DV7 Group are expected to be helpful in that. A press release from the club said about their roles at the club include, "... advising the coaching staff, improving the Indian and youth players, providing general support to the on field activities among others."
The franchise, formerly known as Delhi Dynamos, is hoping to make a splash with the fanbase as it returns to its second home city of Bhubaneswar. Going by the online response, David Villa's arrival has the fans elated and hopeful for their beloved team's performance next season.