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Mr. Alan Pace: "We have come to honour, strengthen and help RCD Espanyol to grow"
The new club president explains his plans following the ownership transition
Alan Pace, the new president of RCD Espanyol, spoke to the media this Tuesday to explain his plans for the club and the ambitious future that awaits Los Pericos.
“It’s a real privilege to be here. It’s taken time, hard work and trust to get to this moment. I want to thank Mr. Chen Yansheng and the RASTAR Group for the way they have handled this transition and for everything they have done for this great club,” Mr. Pace began by saying in his initial address.
“For us, this is not just a business transaction. It’s something far more meaningful. Football is a powerful force - not because of money or ownership, but because of what it means to people. It connects families: children, parents, grandparents. It connects communities, countries and cultures - singing songs together and carrying dreams along the way. Few clubs embody this better than RCD Espanyol - a club with history, heart and hope. A club that stands for loyalty, resilience and a sense of belonging,” he continued.
“As we approach the club’s 125th anniversary, we celebrate the spirit and pride of generations of fans who have supported us. We haven’t come here to change what RCD Espanyol are. We have come to honour it, to strengthen it and to help it grow.
Our commitment is to work with honesty, humility and total dedication. We believe in stewardship, not control. That means protecting the identity of Espanyol with clarity. I’ve seen and felt what this club means to those here: The warmth, the passion, the hope. It’s been deeply moving. We shall earn trust through our actions, not our words. We are here to respect the past, support the present and build a future worthy of RCD Espanyol de Barcelona,” Mr. Pace declared.
Answering questions from journalists, he emphasised the idea of instilling "a winning mentality" throughout the club and was open in acknowledging that "three years ago this was a dream, a project. Now this dream is alive."
The new club president stated that, for him, success would mean "placing Espanyol among the six best teams in the country. We must have that mentality."
"I am very happy and delighted to be part of this project. This is a dream, and it's been that way since I first came here with my wife, 30 years ago to live and study in Barcelona. Some 30 years later, it's like we're still on our honeymoon. I have many friends here, and they're all like family to me. The relationship I have with them is a lifelong one.”
“I've been involved with other clubs, but I'm here to build on and extend RCD Espanyol's history,” he concluded.