People of the Union: Gamadiel Garcia (Chile)

FIFPRO

07/08/2025

People of the Union puts the spotlight on individuals across FIFPRO’s member associations who are dedicated to improving the wellbeing of professional footballers.

Gamadiel Garcia is the president of the Chilean Professional Footballers' Union (SIFUP). The former midfielder talks about his daily work, his motivations for unionising, the importance of education for footballers and the challenges ahead.

What is your current role and background?

I am president of the Chilean Professional Footballers' Union and currently serve as general secretary of FIFPRO South America. I have a degree in business administration, a diploma in project formulation and evaluation, and a diploma in sports management.

What do you enjoy most about your work within the union?

What I like most about union work is being in contact with footballers, being able to constantly evolve and come up with new projects; always having, as a union conviction, the ability to provide new support for our members. And, of course, having something different to deliver every year.

What issue affecting player welfare are you most passionate about?

Education. I believe we have addressed this issue in the best possible way in the Chilean union. It's an issue I think greatly affects the wellbeing of footballers, especially when their careers come to an end, in terms of making decisions about what to do, how to invest and how to manage the resources generated during their careers. I'm passionate about that. We've focused a lot of time and resources on this issue within the union, and it's one of the issues that I think needs to be addressed across all unions.

54277384939 4A7042fc2d K — Gamadiel García (centre) talks with Mauricio Isla (left) and Arturo Vidal (right) during a Colo Colo training sessio

Can you share with us one of the achievements you are most proud of in your work as a union representative?

One of the achievements we are most proud of is in the area of education. Over the past nine years, more than 2,500 footballers and their families have been able to study for free, mainly to catch up on their studies [Editor's note: Chilean professional footballers can obtain or complete their secondary education], which is the first step, but we also offer free courses and diploma programmes. We are very proud that many footballers, once they have retired, have been able to start and run their own businesses with the tools we have given them through the union.

If you could change one thing about football, what would it be?

That it never ends. I think it's the most beautiful activity there is, it's one of the most beautiful jobs you can do. And that's what I would change without a doubt.

Is there anyone in the union or in sport in general who inspires you?

No, there's no one who inspires me, either in the union or in sport. There are other inspirations that are more divine and that I think we should follow closely.

What is your best sporting memory?

My best sporting memory, beyond any victory or defeat, is having shared different dressing rooms in different countries and seeing how you build bonds, how you develop that commitment to each of the groups you form and get to know. I think that's something that really makes an impact.

You realise that, beyond the different conditions and nationalities, football and its people have something special, especially when there are common goals.

Imago14829337 — Gamadiel Garcia in action for Audax Italiano in 2013

What motivates you on a daily basis?

To keep moving forward, keep growing, keep promoting our union, keep strengthening our members through the various projects we have, through institutional growth and through everything we can contribute as leaders to make our union much stronger. And so that we have players who are much better educated when it comes to making decisions, investing and signing new contracts. That is what motivates us every day.

FIFPRO will celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2025. What does it mean to be part of a global union?

Being part of FIFPRO, being part of a supportive organisation, an organisation that cares about the welfare of footballers, means being part of a movement that always seeks to be at the forefront in supporting members of every nationality. And, of course, it is an organisation that has allowed many of us to grow, to have a much more powerful union, to have a voice that is heard worldwide. We also have to thank those who had this brilliant idea of forming a union, of creating an industry where we can have union unity and fight with a single goal, which is to strengthen our members, strengthen the industry and contribute as much as we can to make the sport better every day.

Looking ahead, how do you hope unions will come together more on in order to shape the future of football for players?

There are many points on which we can agree, but without a doubt I think one of the most important points at a global level is that our footballers are paid on time. Footballers need to feel dignified in their profession. Despite the global growth of the game and the millions that are involved, there are still players who do not receive their wages every month or whose contracts are terminated unilaterally. I think that is what we need to achieve. We have to ensure that footballers are respected and that they are at least paid what is stipulated in their contracts.