For the next nine months two of Spanish football’s students of the game will be imparting their knowledge with Bermuda players and coaches at the Island’s Valencia Academy.David Sanz and Juan Carlos Magro arrived in Bermuda a few weeks ago as part of an agreement between the La Liga giants and the ABC Football School, run by Andrew Bascome and Henrik Schroder.Sanz, at 36, is one year older than Magro; among his coaching highlights is a stint at Real Madrid in 2006 working under then first team coach Juan Ramon Lopez Cara.He also coached at Valencia’s international camps in England, Scotland, Wales and New York.Magro, like Sanz, has also coached around the world and holds the UEFA Pro Coaching License the final badge available, required by anyone who wishes to manage a football club in the top level.Between them they hope to readdress some of the Island’s footballing deficiencies at the Academy at Saltus, where more than 350 children, aged between four and 14, are learning to play the Valencia way.Working closely with a small, but enthusiastic group of local coaches, the Spanish duo are confident they have sufficient time to achieve their short-term goals, and lay the foundations for their long-term targets.“We’re trying to change the football culture here in Bermuda,” said Sanz, through a thick Spanish accent. “The most important thing we’re trying to change is the attitude and mentality of the players and coaches.“We believe after three of four months it will be possible to see our methodology working. The feedback has been very good and we’re very happy with how things are going.“It’s very important to provide information to the coaches as well and improve their knowledge.”One word that crops up several times while having a conversation about coaching with Sanz and Magro is ‘knowledge’.For the pair of coaching globetrotters, it certainly seems as though wisdom is king when it comes to football development.“We want the players and coaches to learn and feel important,” said Magro. “They have to improve their knowledge but it’s very important they feel important.“The problem is the football season finishes in April and the children will go and play cricket.“That’s okay but we want to see if they can (play) football at the same time as cricket. We want the players to play other sports but we want to tell them that it is possible and that they decide what they want to do.”Although the Bermuda-based Academy is the third Valencia have opened outside Spain, it’s the first to be manned by the club’s own coaches.And Magro believes being able to work full-time at the Academy will accelerate the development of both the players and coaches.“It’s the first time Valencia have opened an Academy with Valencia coaches and that gives us a better opportunity to explain our methodology,” he said.“The Academy in Japan has one Valencia coach visit every three months, while the one in Egypt has closed because of the dangerous climate in the country.“Bermuda has taken a very good decision (to have full-time Valencia coaches) that other countries didn’t take. It’s not just about football though and hopefully our programme can help create good people.”Since arriving on the Island, Sanz and Magro have been regulars at local matches and are helping Bascome on the training ground by putting Robin Hood’s players through their paces.Sanz said had been pleasantly surprised by the standard of play, and said the Hood players had shown a willingness to learn on the practice pitch.“We’re surprised by the level of Bermuda, I mean obviously it’s very different to a top division in Spain or England,” he said.“We have also been training Robin Hood which is a very exciting experience for us. The players are excited also and at the end of training they are surprised it’s all over and they want more, which is very positive for us.”Such is their busy coaching schedule, Sanz and Magro have had very few hours in the day to explore Bermuda, although the pair are keen to embrace the Island’s culture.“It’s important for us to be involved in Bermuda culture,” said Magro. “We have not yet had much time to go snorkelling or go the beaches because we are working, working, working, but hopefully we will see more of the Island soon.“Valencia and the ABC school have a three year contract so maybe we will be here for a few years.”Valencia FC will be holding their Next Generation camp at the National Sports Centre from October 21-26.