Spanish league star Senna arriving for Villareal 7s
Villarreal Philippines Academy will welcome one of Spanish football’s revered figures as Marcos Senna arrives in Manila for the inaugural Villarreal 7s Filipinas Cup on Dec. 13 and Dec. 14 at the Ayala Vermosa Football Pitch.
More than 67 young players from Villarreal’s academies in Sydney and Brisbane are flying in to join homegrown talents from local programs led by Villarreal Philippines, the official partner academy of LaLiga club Villarreal CF.
The two-day event marks the first international tournament hosted by the academy and aims to deepen ties across the Asia-Pacific region while highlighting the country’s growing youth football scene.
Uefa champion
Senna’s appearance is expected to be the tournament’s major draw. The Brazilian-born midfielder, who became a key figure in Villarreal’s rise in Spanish football, spent 11 seasons with the “Yellow Submarine,” emerging as one of the club’s most-capped players and a central figure in its Intertoto Cup success and deep European runs.
He later helped Spain capture the 2008 Uefa European Championship, anchoring the midfield with his trademark composure, defensive discipline and precision passing. Senna also won titles with Brazil’s Corinthians before concluding his career in the United States with the New York Cosmos.
Before the tournament kicks off, Senna will meet local journalists in a media luncheon hosted by Villarreal Philippines Academy and the Philippine Sportswriters Association at Dusit Thani Manila.
Organizers said the Villarreal 7s Filipinas Cup will feature high-energy youth competition and community activities built around Villarreal CF’s player-development model. With Senna’s visit and collaboration among international academies, the event marks a significant step in the club’s expanding presence in Southeast Asia.
For more information, visit villarrealphilippines.com.
