Cristian Toro, the new head coach of Servette FCCF, gave a short interview to the club’s official website.
Cristian, hello! Can you briefly introduce yourself and your background?
My name is Cristian Toro, I hold both Argentine and Spanish nationality. I started playing football in Argentina, where I played in the 3rd and 2nd divisions, before beginning my coaching career in Spain. I’ve now been coaching in the Spanish top division for nearly 14 years, having led over 400 matches between Valencia CF Femenino and Sevilla FC Femenino.
How do you view this first experience outside of Spain?
It’s definitely a new challenge for me! Firstly, because it’s a different league, and also a new culture. On a personal level, it’s a challenge to improve my language skills and to add international experience to my career. So, it’s both a professional and personal challenge that I’m truly looking forward to—and I aim to win every possible title during it!
At Valencia, you worked with Malena Ortiz Cruz. Did she talk to you about Geneva before your arrival?
Yes! Malena spoke a lot about Geneva and the club. She said it’s a beautiful city with an excellent quality of life, and that the club is like a family—people are close and very welcoming.
Does having these kinds of references help you?
Absolutely. Marta [Peiró, sporting director] spoke a lot to me about the club’s project and its vision for growth, which was very important in my decision. And the fact that there are Spanish players and a variety of different cultures here is definitely a reference point for me. I hope to adapt as quickly as possible by improving things like communication and my language skills. That’s why I plan to return as soon as possible to start putting this into practice.
What is your coaching philosophy?
My philosophy? I love it when my team attacks and always looks to move forward—whether that’s through vertical play, possession-based build-up, counter-attacks, or high pressing. All of that must also be adapted to the characteristics of the players, the league, and the type of match. What I want is for us not to be predictable or labeled as playing only one style. Instead, I want us to be capable of managing and mastering different types of situations.
What are your first impressions of the city, the club, and the people in it?
I had the opportunity to visit recently and found the city very beautiful. Culturally, it’s quite different from what I’m used to in Spain. There are many parks, lots of mountains. The people here are very kind, very welcoming, and they’ve given me a lot of positive energy. I’m really looking forward to experiencing this new chapter and getting even more in tune with the local culture and the club!
And finally, do you have a message for the fans?
For me, the most important thing is that my team represents the values of the people who support the club. I hope everyone will feel connected to our team and the values we show on the pitch—and that we’ll be able to excite and attract them with our style of play and our mentality.