[5][6][7] In 2008, he became the technical director of FCB Escola, a Barcelona youth football academy opened at the Raffles International School in Jumeirah, Dubai.

[15][16] Gombau actively exercised his ambition to develop South Australian grassroots football by hosting free seminars for local coaches.

[19] Known as a developer of talent, on 28 June 2016, Gombau was appointed as head coach of Australia U-23 in place of Aurelio Vidmar, under whom the team failed to qualify for the Olympics.

[21] After just six months in charge, 19 April 2018, the club announced they had terminated Gombau's contract after failing to qualify for the 2017/18 A-League Finals Series.

[22] On 2 August 2018, Gombau was appointed as head coach of the Indian Super League club Delhi Dynamos following the departure of Miguel Ángel Portugal.

[25] In July 2020, Gombau was announced as the first-ever head coach and sporting director for David Villa's planned USL Championship club Queensboro.

[26] After the club's scheduled start date was pushed back twice, and with its future in doubt, he left his positions in June 2022.