Aintzane Encinas Gómez: Breaking Barriers in Women’s Soccer in Spain

May 25, 2023
By Radha Kumari

“We need more women leaders in soccer to make decisions for ourselves to bridge the gap of gender inequality” – Aintzane Encinas Gómez

Growing up in Basque Country in 1988, Aintzane Encinas Gómez pioneered women’s soccer in her small town, breaking down barriers and making history.

Today, Encinas is an ambassador for La Liga, one of Spain’s most prominent soccer leagues. She is committed to creating a better future for all women who love soccer and providing them with the same opportunities as men. Encinas is a true leader and role model for women everywhere, inspiring them to pursue their dreams.

Encinas devoted her life to soccer. This passion was evident in my recent interview with her, where she spoke with enthusiasm and determination about her ambitions.

She played in the province of Gipuzkoa, where soccer was a source of joy for her, playing along with her brother. She shared a special bond, strengthened further by their love of soccer.

“I played football for Añorga KKE for the first time. That was the beginning of my professional soccer journey. Immediately after, I joined my first female team at Real Sociedad Club. This was a dream,” Encinas said. “I have played for 13 seasons for 13 years,” exclaimed Encinas, with a slight smile on her face. But her professional journey does not end here. She faced significant challenges.

She studied Bachelor of Physical Activities and Sport at Baque Country University, pursuing her Master’s in Sports Management from ISDE in Barcelona. This is one of the leading universities in Business and Law. While she studied, she created her own football club called “Garben Club Departivo.” She felt the need to inspire more women to play soccer.

Her remarkable achievements contribute to soccer and remind us that with passion and dedication, anything is possible.

Football is the way, but we tackle many problems in our communities. Gender inequality in sports is one of them.

At the time Encinas studied, there were no female coaches. There were no women who wanted to be coaches. She learned with boys. While surrounded by male coaches, she noticed that they only gave examples of men’s soccer. Despite all the references from a male coach, no women were mentioned. Education was in short supply; she was surprised to find this. This lack of female representation in the sports world created gender bias and an environment where women felt excluded and discouraged from participating. This lack of female role models and mentors caused a lack of education and opportunities for women in the coaching field.

As a woman leader, she wanted to set an example for the younger generation. To increase women’s soccer visibility, she started her own camp where she trained women in various ways. This included facilitating training and speaking and sharing her experiences.

She started working with La Liga, involved in a project that fulfilled her. She traveled to Brazil. Not only did she play at tournaments like Labela, but she also lived in a refugee camp and delivered a coaching program. This enabled her to travel and learn about different cultures thanks to soccer.

“I dream big,” said Encinas. But she had few international opportunities. She wanted to travel and play against other women worldwide. “I do not want this for other women,” said Encinas about the barriers for women in soccer. This is why she started the “Txismst Cup,” which is one of the biggest women’s international soccer tournaments in the Basque country. Professional teams like Barcelona Football Club, Real Madrid Club, and many more will participate this year. Through this program, she intends to give voice to women’s soccer by creating a space where people from all over the world meet to celebrate soccer.

“We need all people to support women’s soccer to inspire the next generation to mark equality,” she said. In order to make changes, we need more voices and people to hear them.