Meet Alejandro Irarragorri-Kalb: The Youngest President in Liga MX
So, folks, it seems the football world has decided that 24 is the new 44—at least when it comes to running clubs! Alejandro Irarragorri Kalb, a.k.a. ‘Aleco’, has just been crowned the president of Santos. And if there was ever a camp for ageism, this kid just blew it to smithereens. I mean, the only board meeting he’s likely had prior to this was his family’s dinner table debate over who gets the last slice of pizza!
To say some fans rejected the news with more skepticism than a cat seeing a cucumber would be an understatement. “What do you mean, he’s got less experience than a toddler with crayons?” was the vibe. But others, bless their hearts, decided to back him. After all, he practically grew up in the club’s locker room, likely honing his skills in managing tantrums—especially if anyone tried to steal his lunch!
A Bit of Background on ‘Aleco’
Aleco is not just any kid off the street; he’s the son of Alejandro Irarragorri, the chairman of Grupo Orlegi, which owns Santos. I mean, this is like winning the genetic lottery! He graduated with a degree in Business Administration—because you know, football management isn’t exactly your average 9-to-5 thing. Add to that a diploma from NYU? Talk about being raised with a silver spoon paired with a calculator!
His footballing résumé reads like the ultimate buffet of soccer experience: internships with Celtic and Atlético de Madrid? Most people are happy just to watch those teams on TV while he’s helping them behind the scenes! If you’re sensing a trend here, it’s that Ali Baba found his cave of wonders with a slight family twist.
Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number!
In fact, ‘Aleco’ is not alone in this young leadership trend. There are several sprightly presidents around the globe playing at the big boys’ table. Take Franco Caselli—just 24 years old when he took over Burgos in Spain. He probably threw around phrases like “Let the kids play!” while sporting a beaming smile as massive as his corporate credit card limit!
We’ve seen others like 18-year-old Blai Moliner in Spain’s Fourth Division and even 28-year-old Steven Zhang at Inter Milan, who apparently didn’t quite keep his club afloat. Nothing says “Welcome to the world of football” quite like having to sell your club just after being in charge! What are these younglings drinking anyway? Himalayan spring water?
So What Does This Mean for Santos?
Now for the real question: what does it mean for Santos? Change doesn’t come easy, and this club needs solid leadership. With fans divided like they’re in a bad love triangle, Aleco has a mountain to climb if he wants to avoid being the butt of jokes at next year’s club roast. He’s repping a club with deep roots, so let’s hope they don’t uproot him before he gets settled in!
There’s a fair chance ‘Aleco’ might surprise us—or at least put on a spectacle worth mentioning. But he’s going to need to channel some fiery passion, because scouting talent and managing personalities at this level isn’t what one might learn in a classroom. Football isn’t just about tactics; it’s about people! And this ‘young warrior’, as dear old dad called him, better be ready to battle through the chaos, cover his ears from social media, and prove that age doesn’t define capability—at least until he starts talking about “back in my day.”
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So grab your popcorn, folks, because this show is just getting started! Who knows, in a year or two, Aleco could either be crowned the king of Liga MX or stuck wondering where it all went wrong—probably while reminiscing about his failed attempts at balancing tango dancing with board meetings!
Oct 19, 2024, 3:25 p.m. ET
Upon his appointment, many fans questioned that it was not the change they expected, while others gave him the benefit of the doubt because they know the organization.
Alejandro Irarragorri Kalb became president of Santos in replacement of Dante Elizalde. Better known as ‘Aleco’ by his family and closest friends, the 24-year-old manager is also the youngest president in the history of Liga MX.
Doubts about his age immediately resonated on social networks. Many fans of the Santista club considered that it was not the change they expected, while others gave him the benefit of the doubt because he knows the organization from its core and at all stages.
‘Aleco’ is the son of Alejandro Irarragorri, president of the Board of Directors of Grupo Orlegi, the company to which the La Laguna club belongs, and has always been very present in the decisions his father made to build one of the most solid groups in the world. Mexican soccer. However, not many know Irrarragorri calfwho immediately took over.
@ClubSantos
“I am blessed to be your father and fortunate to witness your growth, determination and courage. Today you assume the role of President of Club Santos, where you have spent 3/4 of your life. I know that you will transmit your passion for serving and through our people you will deeply reconnect with our great green and white fans. You are a true Warrior! (sic)”, Alejandro Irarragorri wrote on his X account, formerly Twitter.
How did Aleco Irarragorri become president of Santos?
‘Aleco’ came to Keep at the age of six and was trained as another ‘Warrior’ because his father invested everything in the picture of the Lagunera Region. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Las Américas and later obtained a Diploma of Education, Fundamentals of Global Sports Management at New York University. Additionally, at LaLiga Business School he obtained a master’s degree in Sports Marketing.
His experience in the world of football began only in 2017, when he was 17 years old. At Santos he had temporary positions in various areas of the club such as Strategy and Logistics, as well as Marketing, where he began to see some parts of the business.
Then he went to Europe and He had an internship at Celtic Glasgow in Scotland in 2019where he was in several areas, especially to seek the best results for the club in the market. Later, for 2022, he had an internship in the Digital Marketing area of Atlético de Madrid lasting seven months.
Finally, since 2021 he served as Corporate Strategy Associate at Orlegi Sports, a position he held for the last three years until this Thursday he was officially named president of Santos.
Youngest soccer presidents in the world
In 2019, the Argentine Franco Caselli, only 24 years old, became the president of the Burgos of the Second Division of Spain, this after his family bought the club, so they sent his son to take the reins of the organization.
In 2022, at just 18 years old, Blai Moliner became president of the Girona de Maià de Montalt of the Fourth Division of Spain. In 2018, in Argentina, 26-year-old Javier Méndez Cartier became president of the Excursionistas club that currently plays in the Primera B Metropolitana of that country.
Meanwhile, the Chinese businessman Steven Zhang became the president of Inter Milan in 2018, and at only 28 years old, when his father’s company, Suning Holdings Groups, took over the team just two years earlier, in 2016. Without However, he had to sell the club for debt years later, in 2023.
The youngest presidents in Mexico
On the other hand, at the time, in Mexico, Jesús Martínez Murguía took the reins of León when he was 25 years old in 2010, which was when his father, Jesús Martínez, bought the Bajío club and added it to the Grupo Pachuca family.
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In 2011 and at 27 years oldJorgealberto Hank Inzunza became the owner of the newly created Xolos from Tijuanaa team that he led to his first title at the age of 28, when they won the 2012 Apertura final against Toluca.
At 27 years old, Fidel Kuri Mustieles, son of Fidel Kuri Grajales, became president of the extinct Veracruz Red Sharks and of the Albinegros de Orizaba when his father sought political office in 2015.
One of the most famous was Emilio Azcárraga Jean, who is the president of America. The Mexican businessman took command of the Águilas when his father, Emilio Azcárraga Milmodied in 1997. At that time he was only 29 years old and also raised many doubts about what he could do with one of the most popular clubs in Mexico.
