In 2010, shortly after his team was left out of the World Cup once again, Hugo Albrado decided to take action.
From his home in California he turned on a computer, and began looking for footballers of Salvadorian descent scattered around the world who could improve the faltering team.
Alberto googled people with names that sound like El Salvador or with faces that are visible from there, and he found quantities.
In Europe, in the USA, in Australia, in colleges - he has reached everyone.
He put those who were interested in the right to represent the El Salvador team on a website he set up, SELECTA-TALENT, in which he wrote: "My goal is to find all the talents that can represent and improve the team."
Until last year, Alardo's occupation was only a hobby.
He was not allowed to engage in it, was not employed by any team, and was not at all in touch with the local team.
He was a man with a dream, and with a lot of windows open on the computer.
In October last year, as part of a reconstruction process, the El Salvador Association appointed Diego Henriques as its new professional director.
Henriks worked for many years in the US, and as a first step appointed coach Hugo Peres, an American native to El Salvador who played for the Stripes and Stars team for a decade.
At the same time, they looked around and realized that there was no choice but to look for talent outside the borders of the country.
Teams like Spain, England and Italy do it, and so do the US and Mexico - so there's no reason for Salvador to give up the right. They added players they knew from MLS and colleges in the US, but they needed more.
At this point they turned to Alberado and his website.
"Bringing players from around the world is something that is part of our program," Henriques explained.
"That's how we can build our new identity."
Team coach Hugo Perez (left).
Does not compromise on national identity either, Photo: AP
Wherever possible
Exactly one year ago, in October 2020, Henriques signed Alberado and made him the first scout in the history of El Salvador's association.
In an interview with Zoom from his home in California, Alberado told how he built his empire.
"Once I identified an actor with roots, I contacted him on social media, and if he did not answer then I was looking for relatives."
From there, he recounts, he helped them with all the paperwork and made contacts with the El Salvadoran embassies around the world.
If in the past it was difficult for him to present himself, in the last year it has become much simpler.
"It definitely helps to be the team's chief scout," he told the New York Times.
Association president Hugo Cryo congratulated Alberado on joining: "You have a lot of knowledge and interest, and it can be seen on your website. We are delighted to have you officially employed by our association."
As can be understood from Creo's remarks, Alberado has always "worked" for the association - even if not officially.
He found for them actors like Pablo Ponied who was hiding in Iceland, Gerson Maine who played in the USA, Enrico Hernandez who was born in the Netherlands and belongs to Vitsa and Eric Svalta from Toronto. Who are good at football.
"I imagined that after the Civil War in 1982, families left for other countries, and my mission is to find them," the scout explains.
He is currently in contact with other players from Canada, the USA, Europe and even Ethiopia. All to help the team.
"this is only the beginning"
Alberado's frustration stemmed from El Salvador's great decline.
In 1970 she was the first from Central America to play in the World Cup and in 1982 she repeated the achievement, but since then, due to a variety of problems, football has been damaged and the team has not been able to return to the biggest stage.
Alberado.
He has a dream, Photo: From Instagram
"All I do is make my team play as well as it once did," Alberado explains at every opportunity.
Recently, much to his credit, the improvement has been noticeable.
In the last home leg of the World Cup qualifiers she drew with the USA, defeated Panama and stretched Costa Rica in a 2: 1 loss. Just the beginning and we know it, "Henriques declared, clarifying:" The goal is the World Cup in 2026. "Now, with Alberado on the team, El Salvador has enough time to find enough players to do it.