Tomorrow, fans at Gladsaxe Stadium will witness a historic moment when the team takes on Nykøbing FC.
Cause? Fabiana Alcalá – AB’s interim head coach.
Alcalá will be in charge of the team and thus become the first woman to lead a men’s division football team in Denmark.
From Las Palmas to Gladsaxe
Alcalá received his football upbringing in the Canary Islands, Barcelona and in the United States. After a few years of serious injuries, she decided to stop playing football.
Alcalá joined AB in the winter of 2024, where she was hired as the club’s Health & Performance Coach. Previously, she has been a coach in RCD Espanyol and TMF Kuwait, among others.
“For me, coaching became a way to stay in football without having to worry about the physical demands of being on the pitch for 90 minutes, which ended up becoming more and more of a challenge.”
A woman in men’s football
Women have not always been welcome in football, neither on the pitch, the pitch nor the sidelines, and women like Fabiana have throughout their careers had to fight against the scepticism that can come from a sometimes male-dominated industry.
“Throughout my journey, I have encountered doubts, not only from people in leadership positions, but also from parents of the children I have trained. There has often been a scepticism about my ability to coach a men’s team, primarily because I am a woman. But we constantly see male coaches who successfully coach women’s teams, so why shouldn’t it be possible for a woman to coach a men’s team?”
“My journey represents the realization of a lifelong ambition, but at the same time I also hope that this opportunity for me can help pave the way for future generations of young girls who want to become coaches, whether it is in women’s or men’s football. There is a growing group of talented women, and they also deserve the opportunity to show off their skills,” says Fabiana.
Groundbreaking opportunity
Alcalá sees her role as an opportunity to pave the way for future generations of female coaches in Danish football and hopes that her example can inspire young girls who dream of pursuing a career in football.
“As a woman, I’m enormously proud of breaking barriers, because I was once the little girl who dreamed of this. And we see more and more steps in the right direction with examples such as Marie-Louise Eta in Union Berlin,” she elaborates.
A challenging week
Despite the mental challenges and pressure associated with his historic role, Alcalá and the team have been focused on the upcoming clash against Nykøbing FC. She emphasizes the importance of letting the players enjoy football without worries right now. Although it has been a challenging week, the team and the club have given her great support, which has contributed to a positive atmosphere around the training sessions and the match tomorrow.
“Mentally, it’s been a tough week. It’s never easy to say goodbye to people you care about. However, we have a group of talented and professional players who know how to handle the pressure, but of course it has been tough. We had a meeting with the players earlier in the week and made it clear that we need to put this behind us and focus on the game ahead.”
“Despite the tough week, our priority is to make sure that the players can enjoy playing football. It has been stressful, but we have received great support from the club and the players themselves, who have really given it their all in training. I think we’re all ready for tomorrow,” she says.
Fabiana Alcalá’s debut as the first woman to lead a men’s division football team in Denmark is not only a personal milestone, but also a step towards more equality and diversity in Danish football.
Come to the stadium tomorrow at 19:00 and cheer on Fabiana and the boys. Secure your tickets here.
