The return of the Uefa Conference League may be inconsequential for some, but for Maurizio Pochettino it represents the culmination of a lifelong ambition. Pochettino spent much of his childhood watching Espanyol, where his father Mauricio - now United States head coach - was first a player and then manager. On Thursday, he will realise that dream when Inter Club d'Escaldes become the first Andorran side to play in the league or group phase of a European competition.
"It feels like it hasn't sunk in yet," Pochettino, 25, tells BBC Sport. "For such a small country, such a small league that isn't known around Europe… it's a dream come true."
Inter's achievement could prove key for the development of an international football minnow. The club made history on a late August evening, beating Drita in a penalty shootout after the Kosovo first leg ended 2-2. Mauricio Pochettino watched from the stands as his son found the bottom corner, before striker Faysal Chouaib sealed the win and sparked wild celebrations at Andorra's national stadium. Inter were founded in 1991 and helped form Andorra's top flight four years later. They returned under new ownership in 2017 and won their first league title in 2019-20, with five titles in the past seven seasons emphatically ending the dominance of FC Santa Coloma.
Few people are as synonymous with Andorran football as Ildefons Lima. The former defender represented Andorra for 26 years and leads the nation in appearances (137) and goals (11). Lima says Inter's qualification shows that reaching the final stages of the Conference League is a realistic objective. Felip Ortiz, who spent much of his life connected with Barcelona, instilled a possession-based style that has paid dividends. "Being at Barcelona made me brave in my tactics," he says.
The Primera Diviso draws limited attention in Andorra, never mind outside its borders, with many locals preferring to watch Andorra FC, owned by former Barcelona and Spain defender Gerard Pique. Pochettino, who came through the academies at Southampton and Tottenham, moved to Spain and played in the semi-professional tiers before joining Inter in 2025. "More eyes are on you, the spotlight is bigger," he says. "It gives you a chance to push on in your career."
Source: BBC Sport Football · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing