Natalia Gutiérrez Garrido, better known in the footballing world as Nati, is the first Malagueña to receive a UEFA-PRO National Coaching licence, the highest accreditation in the coaching world and one that gives the right to manage in all competitions. Coordinator of the women’s teams at the MCF School and coach of Cadete femenino, Nati tells her story:
From player to coach
“I arrived at the end of the ‘treble’ at the time of the Super Cup. At 15 years old, you don’t realise. I had other objectives; at that time, it was to compete in the Women’s First Division. Around nine or 10 years ago I started to see that with the injuries I suffered it would be extremely tough to continue at a high-performance level. I then realised that when I watched games on TV, I wasn’t watching them as a spectator, I was analysing them”.
A motivation
“Nationally there are many (female coaches), but in Málaga it’s a motivation for there to be many more within Málaga football”.
An honour
“It’s an enormous honour, especially for being a woman. Being a woman and proving we have the same capacity as men. In practice we’re seeing that we’re equal and football is for everyone. Women always have to do more, but as soon as you demonstrate you can do the same, you have the same enthusiasm and motivation to do your job, you are respected and treated equally”.
A wish
“To see the women’s team playing here (at La Rosaleda); it’d be amazing”.
