Wish you were here?
English football is still a promised land for many players, off the pitch as well as on it. Ex-Swansea star Guillermo Bauza explains how the PFA helped him with the switch from Spain to League One and then prepare for a move into medicine…
Tell us about your move to England?
In 2007 I was playing for Espanyol, coming to the end of my contract. I told my agent that if he found me somewhere abroad I’d look at it. Swansea came to watch me. When I finished the season the agent told me there was an option to go there and the manager wanted to meet me. I came over one weekend to meet Roberto Martinez, to know the city. He wanted to know more about me and explain his ideas.
What were your first impressions of Swansea?
It was really different in terms of organisation and professionalism compared to the same level in Spain. At the time Swansea were at the third level – that’s semi-professional in Spain and not a good level. After that I was happy to sign. The contract was one year long so I could try to live abroad and learn the language. After the first two games I realised I didn’t want to go back to Spain, I decided to sign a contract.
How did life in South Wales compare to life in Espanyol back home in Mallorca? 
Life is really different. Many people would say it’s worse. It’s not worse – it’s different. In terms of football it was perfect because you’ve got more games than anywhere else. Also the stadiums are amazing – they are big and they are full of crowds. That makes you feel like a football player. In that way the life is better. There are certain differences – technical differences like tactics or intensities, but at the end it’s football. It’s a ball and you enjoy playing games.
What about off the pitch?
You need to learn to adapt to a different culture. If it’s raining, it’s raining – it doesn’t matter. The food is different – okay, you just eat at different times and eat whatever they give you. The sooner you adapt the better because if not it can affect your game. I didn’t spend any time moaning about the rain or food. I just did as the Romans do. And I learned English because it’s really important to communicate in football.
How did the PFA help you to settle?
The PFA from the start really helped. We never had any problems signing the contracts – everything was explained really well. We got plenty of information and no trouble at all.
What’s the difference between the PFA here and players’ unions in Spain?
For me, the first thing that comes to my mind is ‘nearness’. I feel the PFA is near me at all times. As soon as you sign for a club, PFA representatives come to talk about education, pensions… you feel they are often at the club offering different things, most of the time offering help. If at any point you need them, you know who to call or where to go. That’s the major difference. I’ve played in Spain and I’ve been affiliated to the AFE, the Spanish footballers’ association, and I have to say they should maybe improve on their proximity to the players.
How was it to work with Roberto Martinez?
It was good for me as a Spaniard to have a Spanish manager. He always spoke English, but you know he had been in the same position as you 15 years ago, being a young player in the English leagues. That was a really good asset to us.
Could you predict his potential as a manager?
When I first came here I didn’t believe everything he was telling me because he was telling me Swansea would get to the Premier League. If everyone believes the same idea, things can happen. He believed he would be a Premier League manager. I had no doubt at the end of the season he could be a manager further up and I believe he can still go even further.
After your success with Swansea you were out of contract in 2010. How did you feel and who supported you?
At that time I had help from the PFA – one month’s financial support and also all the educational support. I started the year before at university studying genetics. The PFA supported me financially and with connections. They wanted to come and speak to my university supervisor to make sure I was going to get into the course I wanted.
Do you feel the PFA gives equal support to players from outside Britain?
Yes, definitely. In 2009 some of the Swansea players started their coaching training and I think half of them were from abroad. I remember Àngel Rangel starting them and Gorka Pintado doing their courses, so not at all only for the British.
How did you get into your degree course?
First I talked to the PFA and I explained I really wanted to do medicine. They offered me the physiotherapy degree. We kept talking and found the degree in Swansea that was medical genetics and could become a medicine degree in three years. I got in and got financial support – a grant to be in education.
What do your parents think about you potentially becoming the first Dr Bauza?
They are happy that I’m happy and still enthusiastic when I call them. That’s the most important thing. After you’ve finished your football career sometimes you can get stuck into thinking ‘that’s it for me in life’ and I don’t think that.
You’re only 30 and you’re still playing, though…
I don’t play professionally. I changed priority to my studies. In my spare time one of the things I like the most is to play football. I play for the university team and we are trying to get to the next level. I also play for Merthyr Town. I will play for the full year and I can’t say what will happen at the end of it. I could be in Swansea, the USA or Mallorca. I want to finish what I started and I will be really proud if I finish my degree and I’ll look again at what to do after that…
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