People of the Union puts the spotlight on individuals across FIFPRO’s member associations who are dedicated to improving the wellbeing of professional footballers in their country.
Sandro Soronda, Project Manager/Administrative Assistant of Croatian player association HUNS, talks about his experiences in football, his initiatives on behalf of the union and his daily motivation.
FIFPRO: What is your current role and what is your background?
Sandro Soronda: I started working for the union in 2013, but I am not a former player. I have different roles and work as an administrative assistant and project manager. My daily job is to communicate with the players. I am the first point of contact when they have questions about education, legal support or other problems. I am responsible for our marketing activities as well. I try to write inspiring stories about our services for our Instagram and Facebook accounts and our magazine. I hope to convince players to become members.
With my writing, but also when I am doing club visits, I also want to inspire players to start thinking about an education and a second career, as most retired players in our country cannot live off the money earned during their football career. Recently, I wrote about a former women’s futsal player who studied and is now a successful businesswoman. I am proud that we currently have 23 players studying at the Aspira University College in Split. And we had around 30 players who graduated from the former FIFPRO Online Academy (University College of Northern Denmark) and ASPIRA-a
I studied at the FIFPRO Online Academy myself and was able to put the things I learned during this sports management study to practice at the union. I am grateful that FIFPRO gave me the chance to do this study. It was one of my best experiences in life.
What do you most enjoy about the work you do at the union?
I like to work with the players and the clubs. I like the interaction with players and want to help them by creating projects to support them. And I want to help improve the conditions of football in Croatia.
What issue affecting player welfare are you most passionate about?
We arranged that players can have a free heart examination at a private clinic. To us, this is an important issue as unfortunately some players passed away because of heart failures. Since we started with this service three years ago, a lot of players had their heart checked, and doctors diagnosed that some players had a heart condition. This means that we might have saved a couple of lives. Whenever we can, we remind our members that these free examinations are available to them.
Can you share one of your proudest achievements working as a union representative?
Our football camp for out-of-contract players. From my personal experience, I know how difficult it is to find a job in Croatia when you are unemployed. I organise the camp together with our president, Mario Juric, and secretary general, Ivica Landeka. At our latest camp, we had a record number of 22 players participating. After the camp, many players praised our work. “You gave us a chance, you gave us fantastic conditions and we found a new club.” Some players told me that the conditions in our camp were more professional than at their previous clubs.
If you could change something in football, what would it be?
Every child, whether from a rich or poor country, should have the same opportunities and conditions to play football. I would like to see that kids from Afghanistan or Nepal have the same opportunities to play football as children in England, Germany, Spain or Croatia.
I also want more investment in women's football in Croatia. I visited all eight clubs in our first women's league and their conditions are poor. According to the football federation, it is a professional league, but in my opinion it's not. For example, two of the best players of reigning champions ZNK Osijek are working for the police and the army. Professional footballers don't have a second job...
Is there anyone in the union world or in sports in general who inspires you?
Most definitely Mario [Juric]. He gave me this chance. I owe maybe 90 percent of my educational background and skills to him. From the first moment, he involved me in all our projects. He gave me a chance to study at the FIFPRO Online Academy and get my master's degree at ISDE. What I learned from Mario, is that when you want to solve a problem, and the first solution is not working, then find a second, a third or a fourth solution. You don't stop until you've found one.
What is your favourite football memory?
After Croatia's men's team had reached the final at the 2018 World Cup, we celebrated that achievement when the squad returned home. I think around 550,000 people came to Zagreb to celebrate. It was an unbelievable day.
Who is your favourite football player?
Luka Modric. I also like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but I pick Luka. He had such a difficult background, growing up in the war, his home being destroyed, being a refugee. He just turned 39-years and is still playing for Real Madrid, where he won six Champions Leagues in 12 years. He is also an incredible person. I've met him a couple of times, and he is so down-to-earth. Talking with him is like talking with any other person. And whenever we, the union, asked him for help, whether that was with a statement or a signed jersey, he supported us.
What motivates you daily?
It's an honour to work for the union and change football in Croatia. It motivates me to do my best every day to have more members, to have more projects, to have more visibility in media. If a player has problems, then I am that I can help. Mario also motivates me. When he started the union, nobody believed that a player union could exist in Croatia. But we proved them wrong. We belong here. That motivates me.
