Vero Boquete: "This is a further example of the backing we're receiving from LaLiga"

Vero Boquete was this morning named as a LaLiga ambassador at an event held at LaLiga's headquarters. The Spain international was inducted at a ceremony attended by LaLiga president, Javier Tebas; La Liga's head of women's football, Pedro Malabia; Fernando Sanz, LaLiga's Middle East office manager, head of international projects and first global ambassador;and the Liga BBVA ambassadors Milinko Pantic, Fernando Morientes and Cesar Sanchez.

Naming Boquete - a sportswoman who has had an excellent career which has seen her enjoy success everywhere she has played - as an ambassador forms part of LaLiga's continued expansion plans. What's more, at just 28, Boquete becomes LaLiga's youngest ambassador and the first woman to take her place amongst the illustrious list of individuals representing the domestic league. As Pedro Malabia outlined in his opening words, "this is a historic day for LaLiga, for the ambassadors programme and women's football."

¡Selfie en familia para cerrar la presentación de @VeroBoquete como miembro de #LaLigaAmbassadors! pic.twitter.com/8xB45zgiLz

— LaLiga (@LaLiga) February 29, 2016

After receiving her LaLiga ambassador's plaque and shirt, Boquete declared her satisfaction at the progress being made in the women's game. "We're in the strongest position we've ever been in. The World Cup in Canada was a real high point for us and we're starting to see the creation of idol-like figures. It's vital that young girls can see that it's possible, that there is a future for them in the game and that they can go on to become professionals. This gives them added motivation. It no longer surprises you to see a girl playing football in Spain and we're aware of the efforts being made by LaLiga to try to help and promote the idea of a strong professional women's league in Spain. What we want is for an increasing amount of people to be able to identify with us."

The Bayern Munich striker was quick to express her gratitude after being recognised by the league. "I want to thank LaLiga for this opportunity and for the faith they've always placed in me. I'm not here representing myself, I'm representing the women's game. This is a further example of the backing we're receiving from LaLiga. On behalf of us all, I want to thank you for your support."

LaLiga president, Javier Tebas, explained the reasons behind naming Boquete an ambassador: "What we're doing here today is an obligation for us, we owe it to the women's game. We haven't been at the level we should have been at during what has been a boom period for women's football in Spain. We're sorry for not having been involved in this at an earlier stage. We've got to make sure that the likes of Vero Boquete aren't forced to go and play abroad. Vero is part of the Spanish footballing brand and the LaLiga brand. This is something which helps us to ensure that LaLiga continues to grow throughout the world and keeps on gaining more fans. We want female football fans to see the women's game as being on a par with the men's."

Meanwhile Fernando Sanz, in his capacity as LaLiga's first global ambassador, welcomed Boquete to the select group of distinguished representatives enlisted to fly the flag for LaLiga around the world. He joined the chorus of praise for the woman of the moment and echoed the previous descriptions of the day as "historic". "This is a clear example of LaLiga's support for women's football. It's a real pleasure and a privilege to have her on board," he said.

This is just the latest of many steps that have been taken to expand women's football in Spain, although there is still plenty to be done. In this regard, Javier Tebas lifted the lid on one of the next initiatives on the cards: "The LFP World Challenge project will be incorporating a women's football team from our league this year. They will head out to promote the LaLiga brand just like all the other teams have done up to now."

The new ambassador welcomed such developments, highlighting the need to keep spreading the word about the women's game: "Women's football has clearly made huge strides in recent years because clubs are professionalising and that makes it much easier to subsist than with a non-professional structure. It's very important to feel part of a club. It wouldn't take any effort for men's players to come and watch our matches, which would attract more people. Women's football needs to raise its profile; when people come to see one match, they come back."

.@VeroBoquete: "Cada vez más gente sigue el fútbol femenino. Es en un momento fundamental” #LaLigaAmbassadors pic.twitter.com/ryrxg6F80h

— LaLiga (@LaLiga) February 29, 2016

The LaLiga president, for his part, also outlined some of the key factors necessary in women's football's move towards total professionalisation. "We're working on the creation of a professional audiovisual product to monetise the game, which is the way forward to enable everyone involved to be professionals. I think that'll play a very important role next year; we're going to make an attractive, high-quality product that people will like," he noted.

Despite the challenges still ahead, it is an undeniable fact that women's football has grown exponentially. Boquete is living evidence of this and reflected on the changes that have taken place to pave the way for this boom: "Things are being done right; now LaLiga has a department exclusively dedicated to women's football. What's more the [male] ambassadors are here to welcome me; if someone had told me that were going to happen 10 years ago, I'd have laughed in their face."