Franc Artiga’s Russian Revolution: A Beacon of La Masia

Franc Artiga, a distinguished figure from La Masia, has sparked a revolution at Rodina, a club in Russia. Under his guidance, Rodina, coached by the former La Masia instructor, is just two points away from direct promotion to the Russian Premier League.

The Cambrils-born coach has transformed Rodina’s fortunes with a playing style that echoes the philosophy he absorbed at Barcelona. Jimki, a town near Moscow, is renowned for its basketball team, previously managed by Sergio Scariolo, and now, it’s witnessing the rise of Rodina under Franc Artiga’s leadership.

Artiga, 47, spent 11 years at La Masia, coaching various youth teams. Players like Gavi, Balde, Fermín, Dani Olmo, Ansu, Eric, and Ilaix came through his hands. After accepting an offer to coach the youth teams of the United Arab Emirates in 2021, he joined United Football, a club affiliated with the LF group. He was then entrusted with leading Rodina’s reserves before stepping up to the first team.

In an interview with SPORT, Artiga revealed the keys to his success in Russia: “We started with the second team at Rodina and achieved two consecutive promotions, moving from the fifth to the third division. Then we took charge of the first team in the second tier, where we were two points above relegation and 12 points below promotion. Now, we find ourselves just two points behind the leaders with 10 games remaining.”

Rodina has won seven of its last eight matches, a feat Artiga cherishes: “Adapting to the different style of football in Russia wasn’t easy. The climatic conditions and playing surfaces posed challenges, but I’m pleased with our progress. Securing promotion will be tough, with six teams vying for the spots. However, after achieving two promotions with the reserves, we’ll aim for a third.”

Artiga’s coaching philosophy draws from his experience at Barcelona: “The Barça model can only be fully applied at Barça itself due to its rich history and the presence of La Masia graduates in the first team. Nevertheless, my 11 years there have shaped my thinking. I strive to implement these ideas wherever I go, despite the different contexts.”

While Rodina may lack a storied past, Artiga’s impact is evident. The club, founded as ‘Akademia Rodina’ in 2015, progressed rapidly through the Russian football pyramid. Artiga dreams of leading this young but ambitious club into the Russian Premier League, competing against historical giants like CSKA, Spartak, Zenit, Lokomotiv, and Dinamo.

Franc Artiga exemplifies the caliber of coaches nurtured at La Masia, capable of succeeding far beyond Barcelona’s borders by applying the Barça formula to achieve results and a distinct style of play.