Former HSV player plans winter football center in Cala Millor

New momentum for two neglected pitches in Cala Millor

In the early morning, when the pine trees still cast shadows over the paseo and the scent of sea and coffee hangs in the air, there are rarely more than a few pigeons on the two grass pitches next to the hotel buildings. That is about to change. A former professional from the Lüneburg Heath has taken over the ten-year concession for the pitches and wants to bring them back to life during the winter months.

What exactly is planned

Investment: around 100,000 euros are to be spent on renovation, drainage and maintenance. One pitch will be kept for youth and grassroots sport, the other will be modernized for performance training. The target groups are clubs from Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark – teams looking for decent grass conditions in January or February.

The initiator, born in 1970, briefly played for HSV during his active career, later completed his coaching education with the DFB and has been running football camps since 2016. Those who know him say: he is not one for big words, but for getting things done. "Many clubs want natural grass, they have enough artificial turf at home," he explains. That is why he deliberately relies on real green.

Why Cala Millor?

Because everything is close by. From the promenade hotel to the pitches a bus needs hardly five minutes – practical if coaches like short transfers and fixed time windows. Several four-star hotels are also open in winter; the hotel group he works with provides accommodation and catering. Flights to Palma are well scheduled, the weather forecasts look friendly: not comparable to distant training centers, he says.

Small risk – big hope

100,000 euros are not pocket money. Of course there are operators who only think about room occupancy. But many in Cala Millor also see it as an opportunity: a quiet winter, guests with profile, not just package holidaymakers. And for the founder it's not just about business: you can tell that memories of old football camps and time with young people play a role. He speaks of technical training in the morning, sprints on the beach in the afternoon and shared lunches in a small restaurant on the promenade – the kind of personal scenes you want to believe.

Whether top-flight clubs will return to the region as they did in the past or whether it will remain smaller leagues and training camps is open. The only sure thing: the ball will roll again soon, and Cala Millor may get its own modest winter micro-center.

A former player, a few pitches and a clear idea — enough ingredients to bring more football back to the bay next winter.