Josep Soteras

Josep Soteras
Name	Josep Soteras
Occupation	Footballer; Coach
Known for	Goalkeeping; Coaching

Josep Soteras is a former Spanish goalkeeper and coach notable within Catalan and wider Spanish football circles for his playing contributions at regional clubs and his later roles in coaching and youth development. Active during the late 20th century, he is associated with a network of Catalan institutions and Spanish competitions, and his career intersects with personalities and clubs from Barcelona to the broader Catalonia region. Soteras’s trajectory links playing, coaching, and organizational work across club, academy and municipal football structures.

Early life and education

Soteras was born and raised in Barcelona, where he trained in local academies influenced by institutions such as FC Barcelona's youth setup and municipal training centers tied to the Ajuntament de Barcelona. His formative years included participation in youth tournaments organized by the Federació Catalana de Futbol and exposure to coaching methods from figures associated with La Masia alumni networks and coaches linked to RCD Espanyol. He undertook formal coaching qualifications through the Real Federación Española de Fútbol certification pathway and attended seminars hosted by the Royal Spanish Football Federation and regional bodies alongside peers from Girona FC and CE Sabadell FC academies.

Playing career

Soteras’s senior playing career centered on clubs across Catalonia and the Spanish regional leagues. He represented teams competing in the Tercera División and regional divisions, featuring in matches against sides such as UE Sant Andreu, CF Badalona, FC Andorra, CE L'Hospitalet, and UE Olot. As a goalkeeper he trained under coaches influenced by the goalkeeping philosophies that circulated through FC Barcelona and Real Madrid Castilla coaching circles, and he played in cups and friendlies that included opponents from Valencia CF's reserve teams and Atlético Madrid youth squads.

During his time as a player he experienced promotions and relegations common to Spanish lower leagues, competing in fixtures against historic clubs such as Reus Deportiu, Gimnàstic de Tarragona, Hércules CF's youth teams, and regional rivalries with CE Europa. Matches in municipal stadiums brought him into contact with supporters' groups linked to clubs like UE Figueres and CF Badalona Futur, and he faced goalkeepers who later moved into coaching within networks connected to RCD Mallorca and Real Oviedo.

Coaching and managerial career

After retiring from playing, Soteras transitioned to coaching, taking roles in youth academies and municipal programs that overlapped with institutions such as FC Barcelona Escola initiatives, RCD Espanyol Academy projects, and regional training centers coordinated by the Federació Catalana de Futbol. He served as a goalkeeper coach and head of age-group teams that competed in local leagues against academies from Girona FC, Villarreal CF's youth setup, Sevilla FC academy sides, and Real Betis youth squads.

His managerial career included appointments in club technical staffs that required coordination with sporting directors and directors of football affiliated with clubs like CE Sabadell FC and UE Cornella. Soteras participated in coaching exchanges and clinics featuring instructors connected to the UEFA coaching pathways and the Royal Spanish Football Federation's elite coaching courses, working alongside coaches who had links to Luis Enrique, Pep Guardiola, Unai Emery, and others influential in Spanish coaching culture. He also contributed to talent identification linking municipal councils such as the Ajuntament de Girona with scouting networks that reached clubs like Racing de Santander and Real Zaragoza.

Personal life

Soteras has maintained close ties to his community in Barcelona and the broader Catalonia region, engaging with local sporting institutions, civic associations, and charity matches alongside former players from clubs including FC Barcelona, RCD Espanyol, and CE Sabadell FC. His family has participated in regional sport initiatives, collaborating with municipal sports federations and youth outreach programs that interface with organizations such as the Fundació FC Barcelona and local cultural entities. Outside football he has attended conferences and events where prominent Spanish sporting figures and administrators from LaLiga and the Comité Olímpic Espanyol have appeared.

Legacy and honours

Soteras’s legacy is chiefly regional, reflected in recognition from local clubs and municipal sports departments for his contributions to youth coaching and goalkeeper development in Catalonia. He has been honored in testimonial matches and local awards that have included participation by players and coaches associated with FC Barcelona B, Girona FC, RCD Espanyol B, and other Catalan teams. His coaching certificates and involvement in development programs align with standards promoted by the Real Federación Española de Fútbol and UEFA, and his mentorship has produced players who progressed to academies at clubs such as Villarreal CF, Sevilla FC, and Real Sociedad.

Category:Spanish football managers Category:Sportspeople from Barcelona