Global design practice Populous has appointed football great Juan Mata as Special Advisor on Football & Training, adding one of the game's most accomplished players to its growing network of sports specialists who contribute directly to the firm's research, innovation and project development activities.

Under the new partnership, Mata – a World Cup winner, Melbourne Victory midfielder and former Manchester United star – will provide strategic guidance and player-focused insight to support the design of elite football training centres and high-performance facilities around the world.

The appointment draws on Mata's two decades of experience at the highest levels of professional football. The Spanish player has enjoyed a decorated career that includes a FIFA World Cup title, European Championship success and major club honours across England and Europe.

Mata's relationship with Populous has a personal dimension, having celebrated some of the defining moments of his career in iconic venues designed by the firm. He was part of Spain's World Cup-winning team at Johannesburg's FNB Stadium in 2010 and later lifted several major trophies at Wembley Stadium in London during his club career.

Across his professional career, Mata has played nearly 200 matches in venues designed by Populous. His achievements include the UEFA Champions League at Chelsea, and the UEFA Europa League with Manchester United, alongside stints with Galatasaray, Vissel Kobe and Western Sydney Wanderers. During the 2026 season at Melbourne Victory, he won the A-League’s and the club’s Player of the Year awards.

Beyond football, Mata has established a reputation as an advocate for social and community initiatives. He is an investor in Mercury 13, which is focused on women’s football, a partner with San Diego FC and the Right To Dream Academy that supports young players from Africa, and a tireless campaigner for Common Goal, Street Football World and UNICEF.

In his new advisory role, Mata will collaborate with Populous' global training facilities design team, contributing to design reviews, client workshops and strategic discussions across the practice's international studios. His experience as an elite athlete is expected to inform the design of future football training centres, building on Populous’ specialist approach focused on performance, wellbeing, recovery, learning and long-term player development.

"Throughout my career, I've been fortunate to experience some of the best training environments in football," says Mata.

"What I've learned is that great facilities are about much more than buildings. The best environments help players perform, recover, learn, connect and grow. Every detail influences the daily experience of athletes and staff.

"Populous understands that. Their approach puts performance and people at the centre of design, and I'm excited to contribute my experiences to help shape the next generation of football training centres."

Populous has delivered more than 250 training facilities globally and has increasingly focused on an athlete-centred, performance-first design approach that combines expertise in architecture, interior design, brand activation, strategy, technology and performance planning.

Declan Sharkey, Global Director at Populous, says Mata's appointment would strengthen the firm's ability to bring real-world player insight into the design process.

"Juan has experienced elite football at every level of the game. He understands first-hand what makes a training environment successful, from innovation across player performance and recovery to culture, wellbeing and development," he explains.

"His perspective will help our teams continue to challenge conventional thinking and ensure our projects reflect the realities of modern football and the needs of players and technical staff. We are delighted to welcome Juan as a Special Advisor and look forward to working together on projects around the world."

The partnership reflects broader changes occurring across professional football, where training grounds are increasingly evolving into integrated environments supporting not only athletic performance, but also recovery, nutrition, wellness, education, data, community and culture.

For Populous, the partnership further expands its collaboration with elite athletes, coaches and performance experts as the practice continues to develop new approaches to sports facility design.

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Architecture News & Editorial Desk

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