Abel honoured and shares Palmeiras dream: ‘Win Libertadores again’

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·17 July 2026

Abel honoured and shares Palmeiras dream: ‘Win Libertadores again’

Head coach Abel Ferreira was honored this Friday (17) in the trophy room at Nubank Parque by President Leila Pereira. The manager with the most titles in Palmeiras history, the Portuguese coach was given a space at the venue featuring his belongings and memorable quotes from his time at the club.

Under contract until the end of 2027, Abel Ferreira has already won one title this season. The Campeonato Paulista title secured against Novorizontino was the coach’s 11th with Palmeiras.

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What did Palmeiras promise Abel?

After being honored by Palmeiras, Abel Ferreira gave a press conference and reflected on his journey at the club. The coach recalled the conversation he had with then-president Maurício Galiotte before taking charge of the team and highlighted the continuity of the project under Leila Pereira.

When a president interviews a coach, I think that’s exactly what he should do, to know everything. Naturally, the president should ask questions, and the coach should too. And one of mine was exactly what the club wanted for the present and the future.

The Portuguese coach recalled that Galiotte did not make his work dependent on immediately winning titles.

When we arrived, Galiotte didn’t ask me for titles, but above all for what was the club’s vision: to invest in the youth academy, to be competitive. Of course Palmeiras will always fight for titles, but we believed we could help the club grow in a sustainable way.

Abel also emphasized the continuation of the planning during Leila Pereira’s administration.

Then Leila came, with very strong ambition, a more solid team, solid processes. We built connection and a shared way of thinking. The president, despite arriving later in football, has always been very strong on the financial side. Today the club is solid in every way, competitive. The coach has everything he wants. We know that a club like Palmeiras needs to fight for titles.

Asked whether he would change any decision he has made since arriving at Verdão, Abel was direct.

The truth is, I have no regrets. I don’t like looking back. The greatest risk is not taking risks. Above all, I feel a lot of gratitude. I’m Portuguese and very proud of it, but Brazil and Palmeiras are part of my life and my history.

Relationship with Palmeiras

Abel also explained why he remains in charge of the club even after receiving offers over the past few years. According to him, the internal environment and the board’s trust are decisive factors.

What makes me stay at Palmeiras is our board and the president. Be sure of that. It’s very hard to find a club with presidents like Leila. It’s rare.

The coach compared the reality of Brazilian football with that of major European clubs.

Today we see less and less continuity for coaches to do their job. Chelsea won the Club World Cup and, three months later, the coach was sacked. Today he is at Manchester City. What I mean is that we work with a project, with relationships, with trust and continuity.

For Abel, maintaining success for so many years is an even greater challenge than winning titles.

Winning once is hard, but winning consistently is exhausting. What makes me continue are the human relationships within the club. My staff and I do everything necessary to deserve the place we are in, not only because of the president’s trust, but also that of the fans and the players.

The Libertadores dream

Even after all the titles he has won with Palmeiras, Abel admitted he still has one special goal.

I have a dream of winning the Libertadores again. Last year we came very close, and we know why we came very close. This year we’ll try once again. I can’t guarantee it, but it’s my biggest dream. To keep winning titles. I want to feel that pleasure, that taste. It passes quickly, but that’s what drives us.

João Paulo Sampaio and the strength of the academy

Abel also made a point of praising youth academy coordinator João Paulo Sampaio, calling him a key figure in Palmeiras’ development.

He is a huge part of all this. Our youth academy coordinator. Some of you remember that when I arrived, he was there with me. He’s an extraordinary professional.

The coach revealed that he fully trusts the executive’s assessment of young talents.

Some players come through and he says: ‘This one isn’t going back down.’ And I answer: ‘Maybe not, he isn’t going back down.’

Finally, Abel stressed that Palmeiras is able to balance pressure for results with the development of the Crias da Academia.

When I arrived, the club already had a strong structure. With Leila coming in, everything kept growing, with more reinforcements and a more competitive squad. But the academy is part of this process. Some say that at very demanding clubs there is no room for the academy. There is no club in Brazil with as much pressure as Palmeiras. And here we have the courage to trust, look after, and support these boys.

Most memorable victory and most painful defeat

Asked about the most memorable victory and the most painful defeat of his time at Palmeiras, Abel Ferreira avoided choosing a specific match and stressed that he lives focused on the present.

The victory was the last one (laughs). I honestly can’t say about the defeat. I don’t remember. I’m always thinking about what comes next.

The coach pointed out that life in football is made up of triumphs and frustrations, and that difficult moments are also part of building a winning team.

We’ve won a lot and lost a lot. There are 11 titles, but we’ve also already lost six or seven. That’s our life. It’s not all roses, there are plenty of thorns, plenty of bones to chew on. That shapes our character. In the good moments, the wave carries you. In the difficult ones, we show who we really are. My last memory is always the last match.

Objects from the tribute and missing his family

During the tribute paid to him by Palmeiras, Abel explained the meaning of some of the objects on display, which represent important moments in his journey at the club.

The slipper is related to the phrase ‘we are all one.’ That shirt is the solidarity one. As a good Portuguese man, I brought a bottle of wine. I made a point of placing a Brazilian flag and a Portuguese flag together. There’s also a little book, a 2023 piggy bank where we used to keep our points, and the book, which started as an idea and we managed to make it happen here.

Speaking about his family, the coach revealed that talking to his mother remains a special moment, despite the distance from Portugal.

When I talk to my mother, we always talk about the same thing. She asks if I’m well, if my boys are well, and how my players are doing. It’s very good to be able to talk to her. Without the phone, it would be difficult.

Abel ended by showing how much he misses his family.

I didn’t tell her anything about this. None of my family is here. They are all in Portugal. I miss them very much.

What now?

Leading the Brazilian Championship, Palmeiras is now fully focused on the resumption of official competitions. The next match will be on Wednesday (22) at 7:30 p.m. against Coritiba in Curitiba, in the 19th round of the Brasileirão.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.