Natalia Arroyo's Journey from Football to Coaching: A Story of Passion, Determination and Self-Discovery
When Natalia Arroyo lay on the grass after tearing her ACL for the second time, she knew it was time to hang up her football boots. The 22-year-old Spaniard had been playing since she was nine years old, joining Barcelona's youth team at a young age. However, the repeated injuries eventually forced her to confront the harsh reality that her playing career was coming to an end.
As she reflected on her time on the pitch, Arroyo realized that there had been a "little coach inside me" all along - someone who had guided her teams and delivered messages. This epiphany marked a turning point in her life, as she began to explore other passions, including journalism.
Arroyo's journey into coaching was not straightforward. She had studied visual communications at university and worked with local radio stations, but it wasn't until she was approached by Real Sociedad that she finally took the leap. The team gave her a chance to develop, and over two seasons, she learned the game and developed her skills.
In 2020, Arroyo joined Real Sociedad, where she was tasked with building a team from scratch. This experience taught her the importance of observing games, reading players, and finding talent. She also learned how to deliver critical information and build a winning culture.
When Aston Villa came calling, Arroyo saw an opportunity to take on a new challenge. With no previous experience in English football, she had to adapt quickly. Her approach was influenced by her time at Sociedad, where she emphasized the importance of trust, hard work, and believing in the process.
Arroyo's first season at Villa was marked by ups and downs, but she refused to give up. She worked tirelessly with her players, encouraging them to own their own processes and build a strong team culture. As the season progressed, Villa began to find form, winning five straight games and finishing sixth in the league.
While Arroyo acknowledges that there have been tough moments, including four consecutive losses at the start of the season, she is proud of what her team has achieved. She notes that building good things takes time, and that Villa are "competitive, consistent, solid" - but also "building a stronger club."
As Arroyo looks to the future, she is committed to continuing this work. With her mantra of "let's try," she is determined to push her team forward, even in the face of adversity. For this young coach, football may be in her blood, but it is not the only passion driving her journey - one that will undoubtedly lead her to greater heights in the world of sports management.
When Natalia Arroyo lay on the grass after tearing her ACL for the second time, she knew it was time to hang up her football boots. The 22-year-old Spaniard had been playing since she was nine years old, joining Barcelona's youth team at a young age. However, the repeated injuries eventually forced her to confront the harsh reality that her playing career was coming to an end.
As she reflected on her time on the pitch, Arroyo realized that there had been a "little coach inside me" all along - someone who had guided her teams and delivered messages. This epiphany marked a turning point in her life, as she began to explore other passions, including journalism.
Arroyo's journey into coaching was not straightforward. She had studied visual communications at university and worked with local radio stations, but it wasn't until she was approached by Real Sociedad that she finally took the leap. The team gave her a chance to develop, and over two seasons, she learned the game and developed her skills.
In 2020, Arroyo joined Real Sociedad, where she was tasked with building a team from scratch. This experience taught her the importance of observing games, reading players, and finding talent. She also learned how to deliver critical information and build a winning culture.
When Aston Villa came calling, Arroyo saw an opportunity to take on a new challenge. With no previous experience in English football, she had to adapt quickly. Her approach was influenced by her time at Sociedad, where she emphasized the importance of trust, hard work, and believing in the process.
Arroyo's first season at Villa was marked by ups and downs, but she refused to give up. She worked tirelessly with her players, encouraging them to own their own processes and build a strong team culture. As the season progressed, Villa began to find form, winning five straight games and finishing sixth in the league.
While Arroyo acknowledges that there have been tough moments, including four consecutive losses at the start of the season, she is proud of what her team has achieved. She notes that building good things takes time, and that Villa are "competitive, consistent, solid" - but also "building a stronger club."
As Arroyo looks to the future, she is committed to continuing this work. With her mantra of "let's try," she is determined to push her team forward, even in the face of adversity. For this young coach, football may be in her blood, but it is not the only passion driving her journey - one that will undoubtedly lead her to greater heights in the world of sports management.
she went from being a football player to becoming a coach and it's like she found her true calling 
she was really good at coaching before but didn't realize it till after her playing career ended 
now she's at aston villa and they're doing pretty well 
i love how she says "let's try" as her motto it's so positive and motivating 
i feel so bad for natalia arroyo 
she had to deal with those harsh injuries and now she's got to start over in a new league... but at the same time, she's still so passionate about football 
. She's got a "mantra" of "let's try", which sounds like just a cop-out. What really matters is taking risks and trying new things, not just phoning it in every time. And what's with this idea that building a stronger club takes time? That's just code for "we're not gonna win anything this season". I'm worried she's gonna get stuck in a rut and fail to deliver results. 
! She's literally proof that even when life takes an unexpected turn, you can still find your passion and make it work. Like, she goes from being a pro footballer to becoming a coach in English football, no easy feat fam 
. And the fact that she didn't give up, even when things got tough (like those 4 consecutive losses at the start of the season), is really inspiring. She's all about building a strong team culture and believing in the process, which I think is so underrated 
. Can't wait to see what's next for her!
just watched this amazing story about Natalia Arroyo and I'm totally inspired 
she went from playing football to becoming a coach and now she's making waves in English football 
what I love is how she's always pushing herself to learn and adapt 
her "let's try" attitude is infectious 
and it's so cool that she's not afraid to take risks and try new things 
. That's some next-level stuff right there. And now she's doing the same thing with Villa, building a strong team culture from scratch. It's inspiring to see someone so passionate about their work 
.
. And it's not just about the wins, either; it's about creating a positive team culture and developing players.
. She's got this "little coach inside her" (as she puts it 
) and she's using that passion to drive her journey in sports management 
. The fact that she took on this new challenge with no prior experience in English football is straight fire 
. Can't wait to see what she does next! 
️. Its crazy how injuries forced her to reevaluate her life, but instead of being a detour, it led her to discover new passions like journalism 
.
. I love how she emphasizes trust, hard work, and believing in the process – its so true that building good things takes time 
. And her mantra of "let's try" is everything 
so i was thinkin about natalia arroyo's story and its like wow she went from playin football 2 coaching & journalism lol 
but seriously she found this inner coach part in herself while dealin w her ACLs & thats when she knew shes gotta do somethin else 
but she never gives up & thats the thing, building good things takes time & i love how she describes villa as "competitive, consistent, solid" but also "building a stronger club"
She's got this awesome "let's try" mentality, which I'm sure will keep her team motivated and pushing boundaries. And let's be real, who wouldn't want a coach with that kind of energy and enthusiasm on their side? 
. And I love how she's not afraid to admit that there have been tough moments, but is always focused on pushing her team forward with a positive attitude 
.