When a young Spanish goalkeeper decided to switch sides of the pitch, she did not just start coaching, she began rewriting football history.
Elena Fernández is one of Spain’s most respected goalkeeper coaches and the only woman in Spain to hold the UEFA Goalkeeper Coach A licence. After an early injury ended her playing career, she became a trailblazer as the first woman to coach goalkeepers in a semi-professional men’s team. She has since worked with Spain’s U17, U19 and U20 national teams, winning European and World Cup titles while continuing to broaden her knowledge of the game. With a degree in Sports Science, a UEFA Goalkeeper Coach A licence and a passion for equality, Fernández represents a new era of intelligence and leadership in football.
“Elena Fernández represents a new era of intelligence and leadership in football.”
Our exclusive interview with Elena Fernández
You started coaching while still playing in Spain’s second division. How did that early experience shape your understanding of goalkeeping and leadership?
That was one of the most important steps in my career. Coaching goalkeepers while I was still training and studying opened up a completely new world for me. It helped me understand the position more deeply and gave me a clearer sense of the reasoning behind every decision made on the pitch. At the same time, facing competitive challenges as a player helped me better understand, as a coach, the specific demands of the position during matches.
At university, I was gaining new knowledge and could immediately apply it in practice, often exchanging ideas with my own goalkeeper coaches. That combination shaped the foundation of the coach I am today.
You became the first woman to coach goalkeepers in a semi-professional men’s team in Spain. What did that milestone mean to you personally and professionally?
When the opportunity came to coach my first men’s team at that level, I was already looking for a way to gain experience in men’s football, but I did not expect it to happen so quickly or in such a competitive environment. It was only a year after finishing university. Although I had coached men before through internships, stepping into that level brought a new sense of responsibility. Still, I knew I was ready for it.
Professionally, it was an incredible journey. Managing the goalkeepers, working closely with the technical staff, and solving challenges together taught me so much. I learned from everyone around me, which made me a better coach and professional. It also brought unexpected visibility. Suddenly, I appeared in newspapers and on television, which opened doors to connect with respected goalkeeper coaches and exchange knowledge.
On a personal level, achieving my first two goals was the most meaningful part: earning the respect of my goalkeepers and the team as a whole. Above all, I could be myself and share my passion for football with people who made me believe that aiming higher was possible.
Working with Spain’s youth national teams, you have won several European and World titles. What makes the Spanish model for goalkeeper development so successful?
The work done with goalkeepers across Spain is outstanding, thanks to the dedication of so many goalkeeper coaches. At national team level, we have seen a huge rise in quality and competition among goalkeepers in recent years, which is fantastic but also makes the selection process more demanding.
Another key factor is participation. More and more girls are playing football in Spain, which means a larger pool of female goalkeepers. We now even have players over 1.80 metres tall, something that would have been almost unthinkable a few years ago.
And finally, what sets Spanish goalkeepers apart is their technical ability with the ball at their feet. The culture of possession football encourages goalkeepers to take part in the build-up, which gives them a strong technical base and a deep tactical understanding of how to find solutions during play.
“The culture of possession football encourages goalkeepers to take part in the build-up, giving them a strong technical base and tactical understanding.”
You have coached in both men’s and women’s football, across academy and elite levels. How do you adapt your methods to different players and environments?
Adaptation begins with understanding context. You cannot train elite players the same way as grassroots players, and you cannot coach men and women in exactly the same way either. Analysing the environment is essential, whether through research, observation or simply asking questions.
My first experience as a goalkeeper coach was at grassroots level while I was studying Sports Science. What I learned helped me structure my methodology to meet the specific needs of my players. Later, when I started working with men, I had to gather more tactical information, as there are small positional differences compared to women’s football.
I sometimes worry when goalkeeper coaches come from men’s football and apply the exact same methods to women. It is not about changing exercises, but about understanding the physical and tactical realities of each player and giving them what they need to grow. For me, coaching always starts with the individual’s current needs, not with old habits or preconceptions.
Education is a key part of your career. How do your academic studies in sports science influence your daily coaching work?
My studies have given me several advantages. First, the ability to manage training loads and GPS data helps me adapt sessions to each player’s physical condition. Second, my background in biomechanics allows me to recognise technical mistakes and correct them more effectively.
Finally, being able to design strength training, both in the gym and on the pitch, enables me to link technical execution with physical efficiency. Every exercise is aimed at improving specific movements that directly enhance performance.
As a UEFA Goalkeeper Coach A licence holder and educator in the Spanish FA’s goalkeeper courses, what advice would you give to young coaches entering the profession?
My main advice would be simple: keep learning. Make mistakes, learn from them, learn from others, and always stay true to yourself. There is a big difference between being a goalkeeper coach and being a goalkeeper coach who truly makes a difference.
The first may train goalkeepers but does not always understand why they do what they do, often copying exercises from others in different contexts. The second knows how, when and why to apply a method. They adapt, personalise, and think critically. Of course, the second path takes more effort, but if you really want to stand out, why stop halfway?
Technology is changing goalkeeper training fast. How do you integrate analysis, data and video tools into your sessions?
Technical and tactical analysis is essential in modern football. Recording sessions allows us to identify details that are almost impossible to catch in real time. This helps us analyse goalkeepers’ decisions and movements from a technical or tactical point of view.
Filming matches can be less detailed, as the camera angle is usually wider, but using a camera behind the goal can give valuable insights. I have seen more goalkeeper coaches doing that recently, even though I have not had the chance to use that exact setup myself.
For me, the most important part comes after analysis. Reviewing match situations with the goalkeeper and using training sessions to reinforce lessons creates a complete feedback process that drives improvement.
After winning world titles and breaking barriers, what are your next goals in football?
I always look ahead. I am not someone who gives up easily once I have a goal in mind, and right now, I am excited by the idea of moving abroad and continuing my development within a new culture.
I would love to keep working with another federation, but I am also open to joining a club team. Both paths offer amazing and very different experiences.
I am even considering returning to men’s football at some point. After six years, I do miss that environment a little. Whatever comes next, I will face it with enthusiasm and an open mind.