Osasuna shares ‘Método Tajonar’ with FC Dallas and FC Cincinnati Academies

Club Atlético Osasuna shared its ‘Método Tajonar’ with FC Dallas and FC Cincinnati academies this week. Osasuna’s academy, Tajoanr, is one of only four academies selected to host their U.S. counterparts as part of a collaboration program between LALIGA and Major League Soccer, which focuses on exchanging knowledge. Osasuna’s participation in this program is due to its high development level in scouting, recruitment, player development, and transition to professional soccer. Additionally, Osasuna is considered a model of progress according to the indicators of the National Plan for Optimization and Improvement of Youth Academies, which LALIGA has been implementing for the past four years, continuously providing more resources to players and coaches within the structure. Coach Phil Gomez represents the Texas-based academy, while coach Andy Seidel represents the Ohio club’s academy.

“For us, this is recognition from LALIGA. Recently, they placed us in Group 2 alongside nationally renowned clubs—clubs that have double or triple our budget. We compete with them on an equal footing at the academy level. Naturally, this has not gone unnoticed by LaLiga, which considers Osasuna’s high standards in youth development as a reference for its international partnerships. Alongside Villarreal, [Deportivo] Alavés, and FC Barcelona, we are the fourth club selected for MLS coaches to immerse themselves in and learn from our academy’s methods. It is an honor and a pleasure to host them,” said Ángel Alcalde, director of Tajonar.

During their visit, Phil Gomez and Andy Seidel have gained a comprehensive understanding of Osasuna’s academy operations. Their agenda includes morning training sessions with the heads of each academy department, followed by on-field sessions in the afternoon with youth and junior teams.

“It has been an incredible experience. We have been able to engage with the academy, and Gorka [Chocarro] and the entire staff have welcomed us warmly. We’ve seen that this is more than just a club—it’s a family, and that is reflected in everything they do, from their style of play to the players and the stadium. Everything shows that this is more than a club,” said Seidel.

One key goal of the visit is for the MLS coaches to learn from this experience and take insights back to their respective teams. The individualized approach at Tajonar has been one of the most impressive aspects for the FC Dallas and FC Cincinnati coaches. They have also found parallels between their own clubs and Tajonar, which has deepened their connection to Osasuna’s development philosophy and enriched their overall experience.

“It’s similar to FC Dallas: we don’t have many resources, but we do everything possible to develop and train players within the academy so they can reach the first team. We see that Osasuna is doing an incredible job. We want to study their methods carefully, and hopefully, we can learn a lot from them,” said Gomez.

The first knowledge exchange program between the two leagues was launched in 2017. This marks the third collaboration between LALIGA and MLS, with seven U.S. clubs participating in visits to the academies of Villarreal C.F., Deportivo Alavés, and FC Barcelona.