Miguel Ángel Gil received by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Our CEO was received by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, at the Akorda Presidential Palace during his visit to our Academy project in the Central Asian country, which was inaugurated in September 2024.
The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, welcomed our CEO, Miguel Ángel Gil, to the Akorda Presidential Palace for an institutional meeting that highlighted the strategic importance of the project our Academy is developing in the country. The highlight of the meeting came when President Tokayev presented Miguel Ángel Gil with the Order of Dostyk, also known as the Order of Friendship, one of Kazakhstan’s highest honors. The distinction is awarded by the President of Kazakhstan in recognition of contributions to promoting international and civil consensus within society, as well as peace, friendship and cooperation among peoples. During the presentation, the President praised our CEO’s significant contribution to the development of football in Kazakhstan.
Tokayev, a key driving force behind the initiative from its inception, played a fundamental role in facilitating Atlético de Madrid’s arrival in Kazakhstan and the introduction of its comprehensive development model. During the reception, which was also attended by Emilio Gutiérrez, Academy Director, and Marat Omarov, President of the Kazakhstan Football Federation, both parties highlighted the project’s contribution to strengthening bilateral relations between Spain and Kazakhstan, as well as its impact on the Kazakh community and Central Asia.
Before traveling to Astana, our CEO visited the city of Almaty, where he had the opportunity to see firsthand the progress of the sports and education project our Academy is developing in Kazakhstan. During his stay, he toured the Aqbullaq sports complex, the Academy’s high-performance center in the country, whose facilities currently accommodate more than 100 young footballers participating in a comprehensive development program based on Atlético de Madrid’s methodology and values.
During the visit, Miguel Ángel Gil learned about the operation of the facilities, which are designed to support the personal, academic and sporting development of young footballers through a structure that reflects the principles of community, discipline and education that define our Academy.
Accompanied by an institutional delegation that included the project’s strategic partners, Shalkar Nurteleov and Danyar Abulgaizin; Spain’s Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Luis Martínez Montes; the President of the Kazakhstan Football Federation, Marat Omarov; and the Governor of the Almaty Region, Chingis Arinovur CEO also visited the area designated for the training pitches. There, he saw the progress of the facility expansion works, which will provide four football pitches, including one indoor pitch equipped with technical facilities that will make it a benchmark venue in Kazakhstan.
One of the day’s most special moments was Miguel Ángel Gil’s meeting with the Academy’s young footballers. He greeted them as they took part in gym training sessions and Spanish classes. The visit offered an opportunity to see the growing sense of belonging among the players, as well as the commitment and dedication of the local staff and Academy professionals working in Kazakhstan, whose combined efforts are essential to the project’s growth and long-term success.
As part of the institutional and cultural programme organised for his stay in Almaty, the delegation also sought to introduce our CEO to the country’s history and traditions. Exclusive visits were arranged to two of the city’s most representative museums, the Central State Museum and the Museum of Modern Art, offering a deeper insight into Kazakhstan’s cultural heritage. These activities brought to a close a day that reaffirmed Atlético de Madrid’s commitment to developing youth football in Kazakhstan and strengthening sporting, educational and institutional ties between the two countries.
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