Voulgaris and Castellón’s surge resonates across borders | OneFootball

Haralabos Voulgaris hailed CD Castellón going top of Segunda División on Sunday, 1,306 days after taking control of the club. Posting in Spanish, he said he could not be prouder and urged everyone to keep working and dreaming.

Earlier in the day, The Times profiled the Greek-Canadian owner and his methods. Later, Racing de Santander lost at Ipurua to Eibar after a comeback, then Pablo Hernández’s side beat Deportivo 2-0 at SkyFi Castalia to move top.

The report highlighted how Voulgaris built a fortune betting on the NBA using advanced statistical models to spot inefficiencies, then worked with the Dallas Mavericks. He bought Castellón in July 2022 as the club dealt with relegation to Primera Federación and a failed attempt to return to Segunda during the pandemic.

At Castalia, he has pared back traditional structures such as conventional scouting and the sporting director, replacing them with data analysis, algorithms and specialist consultants. He views the club as a laboratory to show an objective, information-led model can compete with bigger, richer organisations. He says the challenge is intellectual and sporting rather than financial, adding the club is not an investment to make money.

The piece also notes his bond with the fanbase and the city, and an ambition to reach Primera División. Under his ownership Castellón have shown on-pitch growth, internal modernisation and a clear playing identity. He accepts football carries more unpredictability than basketball, yet believes data offer a long-term edge.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo