In our previous interview with Toni Gerona, Xavier O’Callaghan's name came up in his Irish Handball story. Intrigued by his involvement as a Spanish-Irish manager of the Barcelona Club, and his prestigious career as an Olympic, European, and famous Spanish player champion, we decided to hear his part of the story.
We had the privilege of chatting with him, discussing his Irish roots, his role in introducing Toni Gerona to Irish handball, and his participation with the Forum Handball Club. We explored his philosophy and attitude as a player and reflective on his experiences in the sport.
Back in 2012, Lúcás Ó’Ceallacháin, served as the General Manager of Olympic Handball Ireland, where he injected fresh energy into the handball environment bringing considerable results in a short time. Despite sharing the same surname with Xavier O’Callaghan, (“Ó’Ceallacháin” is the traditional Irish Gaelic form, while "O'Callaghan" is the anglicized version of the same name), they did not know each other until the European Handball Federation announced that Ireland was seeking an experienced coach for the men’s national team.
Olympic Handball Ireland, back than named Irish Olympic Handball Association, reached out to Xavier to ask about Toni Gerona.
“Toni was the one who told us that he had an offer to go and do things with Ireland. He had to balance it with Barça because he couldn't and didn't intend to leave Barça to go to Ireland. He asked us to balance both things, Ireland and Barça, and we accepted.
We don't usually do that, it's not something Barça usually does, but Toni was very excited about it. Then he started to lead us to that group in Europe and to countries like Ireland that can be helped, that can make improvements.
So being able to help also pleased us. To see the sport expand and grow in Europe. We understood from Barça that this could be done, and we let him balance both things, Barça, which at that time was the second team, and the Irish Federation and all the technical coordination of Ireland.
I was asked a bit about him and I gave my opinion. Honestly, the decision was made by Ireland. So, it's not like I said to sign him. I was asked, I gave my opinion, and that's it. This is more about them wanting to grow and invest in working more professionally with a well-trained coach, given certain conditions.
They did a very good job because Toni's team competed well. I remember it was a team that brought Ireland's level closer to the nations that already had more tradition in European handball.”
In regard to his family roots, Xavier has explained that his ancestors left Ireland in the mid-17th century, when the invasion of the Oliver Cromwell started. The O’Callaghan family left behind their land and properties from Mallow, Cork and move to Catalonia where they worked as mercenaries. Despite the risks involved as mercenaries, generation after generation the surname O'Callaghan has endured.
As a kid, Xavier faced challenges in letting everyone know how his surname is written correctly. Growing up, he started to research about Ireland, and its culture, making him to fell in love with Ireland and become a big fan of everything that is related to the green island. He’s proud of his origins and not only that, he’s well-informed of his ancestors and Ireland history.
As a professional player, he was part of the “Dream team” of FC Barcelona, a name that originates from the remarkable success and dominance of the team during the 1990s and early 2000s. This period was characterized by extraordinary successes, including multiple domestic league titles, Copa del Rey victories, and triumphs in European competitions such as the EHF Champions League. The team was composed of exceptionally talented players who were well-known for their skill, teamwork, and ability to consistently deliver outstanding performances on the court.
Besides being a role model and a legend of the club where all his professional life played, his success reached also the national team of Spain, including winning a bronze medal at the Olympics in 2000.
As a player, despite the fact that he played everywhere in the field, he considers himself as a playmaker, even so he started as a left-wing. From 1994 to 2001, the time when FC Barcelona won 5 Champions Leagues in a row, he was one of the playmakers, while in the last 5 years of his career, from 2001 to 2005, went back to the position of left-wing.
"If you ask me what I am, I never really say a wing, I'll always say I'm a playmaker. I got bored playing as a wing. A playmaker has to think a lot more, a wing is more of an executor.”
We also delved into its fundamental concept of his philosophy that handball is "80% using your brain and 20% using your wrist”, a phrase that is learned since a young age from a Serbian player called Zlatko Portner.
"Zlatko Portner was an incredibly talented player, a player who practically played while walking, and he always said that handball was 80% brain and 20% wrist, meaning the ability to see the game you want, and nothing else mattered. As I was a player with little physicality, a small physique, and not particularly large, who also relied heavily on mental ability, I identified with that phrase and made it my own.
He was talent, while I was more of a worker. With his talent, I would have likely been a better handball player than I was.
I liked it a lot because, in the end, sports, all sports, are about making decisions. I always explain that handball, football, basketball, aside from scoring or shooting, you have to decide when to pass, when not to, etc. It's constantly making decisions, which is why playing is so fun because you're constantly deciding, thinking about what you're doing, not thinking about other things, just focusing on handball, on the decision.
That's why handball has to be played with your head. Talent is very important, but this is basic, and I really liked the phrase, so I adopted it. It's a great phrase, and I stand by it.
You can have the best jump or the best shot, but if you shoot when there are three players, you'll score fewer goals than if you pass it to the guy who’s alone. It's very simple, many elite players find it hard to understand this, but it's important. Sports are very important, people don't think about it. They see the jump, the power, the quality, but they don't see this, that's what sets you apart.”
Based on the Irish Tomas O’Brannagain article published in 2015, while Xavier was a player, he considered his role was to "help the other players to be better". Such a statement, it illustrates an exceptional team player, lacking negative egocentrism, who doesn't prioritize putting himself on a pedestal as the best or the central figure.
Once the professional handball life finished, he moved into the club management, where he works as the head of the Sports Organization and Management Department. He’s also the president of the Forum Club Handball and the EHF Executive Committee. However, what is Forum Club Handball?
“First, it was called Group Club Handball, and then it became Forum Club Handball. It all started in 2006 when a group of about 14 clubs joined together in an association to defend the interests of the clubs in front of the European Handball Federation. The European Handball Federation was making many decisions related to handball without consulting the clubs.
The clubs understood that it was unfair and that they needed to defend themselves, so this organization was formed.
Forum Club Handball started to defend the interests of the clubs and players and we didnt want to go though national federations, we wanted to do it directly. And this, over time, we have achieved it through our confrontations, but now we have managed to have a direct relationship, and we are stakeholders. We have been recognized as a structural part of European Handball since 2011, thanks to the fact that in 2006 we set up this organization, and now we are a partner of the European Handball Federation.”
The club's cooperation and decision was courageous, as it tackled systemic issues and paved the way for a better handball environment for all clubs and players. Besides that, the Forum Club Handball provides financial support for American players who participate in their clubs. They pay the clubs to host American players with the aim of enhancing the performance of the United States' national team and boosting interest in handball in the country.
Xavier O'Callaghan is an Irish-Spanish descent, and although his family roots trace back to Ireland, his family has lived in Spain for generations. Despite his strong connection to Ireland through his surname that proudly is having, he honours the homeland of his ancestors who sought a better life in the mid-17th century. He could not accept the purpose from Olympic Handball Ireland, to play for Ireland back in 2008, time when he was retired already, however, he does praise and offer his support to his root's country whenever he has a chance.
He embodies a remarkable blend of modesty, integrity, and an unwavering willingness to help, that reflects his genuine commitment to making a positive impact in the world of handball and sports overall.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Xavier for generously dedicating his time to us. We wish him continued success in his projects and a prompt return to Irish soil.
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