Pedro López is recognized in the world of football, among other things, for having been the mythical right side that captained Levante towards unforgettable seasons. He achieved the milestone of competing in Europe, achieved a memorable ascent and played in the First Division defending his position with dedication and pundonor. Everything, defending the elastic granota after defending the interests of Racing de Santander and Valladolid. A clothing that, when he hung his boots in the SD Huesca, wrapped again to be part of the coaching staff of the first male template.
However, he always had the team of his city in mind: Torrent CF. After leaving Levante last summer, Victor Ventosa, president of the Torrentí team, fulfilled his dream of having the services of Pedro López after years of insistence. He transmitted that in the depths of San Gregorio there was a firm project and wanted one of the local referents to be a participant. Pedro López not only did not hesitate to accept the proposal, but discovered his true vocation after retiring as a professional footballer: the sports management.
His first year exercising in office has led the torrent to play an ascent playoff to historical 1strfef, but does not want to hang any medal. After discovering what you really want to dedicate in the world of football, it only seeks to grow from their position with the objective that the Taronja do not stop dreaming big. Its ascent aspiration is the demonstration that they are on the right path.
The Torrent celebrated the promotion to 2ndrfef in 2023. Now it struggles to climb to 1st RFEF.
There is a lot of equality in this category. At the time you go from 3rd to 2ndrff you must reinforce yourself, but you have the illusion of, why not, fight for a rising playoff. This year, at Christmas, we were one point above the descent, but look what can be football. The players and the coach have done a spectacular job from January until now. A rocky and solid team has been seen, which has led us to play the playoff. Now, to enjoy.
What was the initial objective of Torrent CF? Permanence? Ascent playoff?
The priority objective was permanence. However, we have always wanted to overcome ourselves. If last year we ended tenthly, this season we aspired, for example, to save ourselves left eighths. In short, progress year after year. However, the season advances, you see that you add points to the descent and that you approach the top. The days pass, do not pick yourself up, and inevitably you have to set the goal of getting into promotion.
What moment marks a before and after in the season?
Vicente Mir, who in these years has done a spectacular job in the Torrent, went to the 1strfef Alcoyano in December and we decided to give Xavi Giménez, who was his second coach. Xavi is a club person, who had been in the torrent for three years and who knew the players and the category perfectly. We did not doubt a second to give the bench and we were lucky to start well. By winning the following two games, and there is that novelty, the player believes more in you and in your message. It is true that Xavi Giménez changed the game system and there were doubts about how the players were going to receive it, but the results arrived immediately. With everyone's work, the result has been incredible.
And when do they feel they can fight for ascent?
There was a match in the second round, at home against Lleida, which we won with a head goal in the 89th minute. There were two days and you were two points above the sixth. Then we went to Cornellà, we lost and left the playoff. It was a hard blow, but, on the last day, we won Sant Andreu, Valencia Mestalla lost and we got to put. Personally, Sant Andreu I think is the team that best played in the category. The ball takes you very much and many occasions ago. It was a very difficult game, but, in twenty minutes, we put two goals and the team became strong.
At this point, we will have to fight with nails and teeth for climbing to 1strfef, right?
In the same way in which we said that the promotion promotion was not our goal, and when we saw it nearby, we fight to death, now we will not stop. We are all plugged in. The team and the coaching staff are very good. The city of Torrent is very excited. Many years ago the torrent fans did not receive so many joys. Not only play the playoff, but also that next year we will play the Copa del Rey. If I remember correctly, they were 38 years without competing. It is a reason for pride for our people to see professional football again, to play the cup and be in a playoff that gives you the option to ascend to 1strfef. We are a tremendously competitive template. They have played very well against everyone. The team has proven to be very regular, especially in the second round, and has remained in the upper area, which is difficult. There is a lot of equality in 2ndrfef, it is a very hard category. That is why this competitive thing this torrent has been more merit.
How does the party face the Atlético Union, corresponding to the return of the first round of the playoff?
After the game we had a bitter taste. We had 25 minutes in the second part where, with 2-0 on the scoreboard, we had four occasions in a row and, in the end, we were a penalty against us and we were 2-1. You leave happy, but with the feeling that we could kill the game. We respect the Atlético Union, it will be a very complicated party. As we say in Torrent, we are not going to do anything without suffering. I think we don't know how to do it otherwise (laughs).
Above, he could not bring better luck in his first season as sports director.
Everything is going quite well, although, too, I have been lucky that there are people working for many years for the Torrent CF to grow. I don't attribute any merit because I just arrived. Success is totally them.
How about experience? He had never exercised this function in the world of football.
It is being a very good experience. When you leave football, which is what you liked, you have passionate you and what you have done during the last 20 years of your life, you have to find something that motivates you. I have the feeling that I like offices more than the grass. I have been in the coaching staff of the first male team of Levante for 3 years and it is true that I liked and filled me, but, according to my character, the sports direction fits me much more. I like to talk to agents, players, sports directors and see away games, than to be locked in an office analyzing the rival and other players. I think it's a position that comes as a ring to my finger.
Did he think he would act as a sports director after retiring as a professional player?
Sports direction has always been in my mind. I have always caught my attention to organize a team, mount it from scratch, be pending on a day -to -day basis, lend a hand to the coaching staff, talk to the players, contribute my grain of sand from my experience as a footballer … I like more than the day to day of a coaching staff. I was right signing for the torrent.
What expectations did the Torrent proposal accept?
I know the president very well, Victor Ventosa. Since I left the Huesca and hung my boots behind me, telling me that there was a good project in the torrent. I decided to go to Levante when I retired, but I knew that if I left the Levante, in my head my next challenge was to go to the torrent. I know the project, the people who are working and how well they are doing, regardless of the obstacles they are having with the City Council. Now I want to grow as sports director, learn and take tables. What you want is to follow many years in this.
Within the project that is cooked in the depths of San Gregorio, is the goal to position Torrent and Torrent within Valencian football?
Completely. Our goal is to go up and it is the goal we have. If people have been working for many years, it is because of the moments we are living now. This season, the fans are very plugged in and values not only what has been done this year, but also what he has done during all these years. I see very excited people. Against CE Europe there were 5000 spectators to San Gregorio, in front of Sant Andreu 4700, in the first meeting of promotion promotion 4800 … for us it is a reason for satisfaction that the torrent is above, but, even more, that many torrentinos go to the countryside and that they feel proud of the team of their city.
In fact, you are torrentí by birth. Many emotions will be living.
That's how it is. It motivates me in a special way not only for being born in Torrent and being from Torrent, but also for being surrounded by people I have grown up. It goes beyond wanting to do things well professional. It is important that everyone adds their grain of sand, but when there is a sports project behind, with people you have known for a long time and trust yourself, not only makes you feel identified, but you don't want to contribute things.
Is it one of those who has gone to San Gregorio since childhood?
I remember seeing the Torrent in Second B, when the field was still a natural grass. When I was older, the team did not play second B again, but I continued to go to the field in third division. Later I started playing football. I went to Santander, then to Valladolid and stopped going as much as I would like, but all the children in Torrent have always gone to the stadium to see their team. Now what we intend is that people feel identified with the torrent, with the players, with the coaching staff and with their proposal. May everyone go up, to be brave and fight independently of the result. This year we are gathering that we have a very competitive team and that they are winning matches, so people are very identified and that is what makes them enjoy their own.
Before they stopped the street for being the captain of the Levante. Now they will do the same but being the sports director of a torrent who invites us to dream of the promotion to 1strfef.
That's how it is. Not only do they stop to tell me that this year everything is going well, but also complain about the stadium, sports situations, the grass, which is to change … also of the lights, that at night, in winter, there is a bit of light left … people do not tell you only the good, but also tell you things to improve and I appreciate it.
