What is Felipe's role? Vasco director explains: “Fundamental”

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Papo na Colina

·18 September 2026

What is Felipe's role? Vasco director explains: “Fundamental”

Vasco has a key behind-the-scenes operation led by executive director Admar Lopes and technical director Felipe. In a press conference held this Thursday (17), the executive made a point of highlighting the former player’s attitude and everyday importance in structuring the football department, emphasizing the strategic role played by the club idol in coach Pedro Emanuel’s quick adaptation:

“Felipe played a fundamental role in Pedro’s quick adaptation. In addition to being technical director, Felipe is someone who helps day to day in connecting various departments, someone who works directly with the scouting team and with me in identifying new players.”

The integration promoted by the former number 6 creates a constant bridge between the coaching staff’s demands and market scouting analyses. That ability to see the pitch through the eyes of someone who has already managed teams from the touchline makes internal dialogue with the Portuguese coaching staff easier, allowing for a precise assessment of needs so the club can find solutions compatible with its financial budget.

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Invisible role and youth-team breakthrough

Felipe’s influence on Vasco’s youth setup was also given special emphasis in Admar Lopes’ remarks, especially in the victorious Brazilian U-20 Championship campaign and the rise of young prospects. The executive detailed the idol’s direct impact on promoting talent:

“On top of that, Felipe had a fundamental role in the Brazilian U-20 title, because of his involvement in the transition, in the youth setup, the whole relationship... He knows all the youth players, the promotion of Ramon Rique at a time when Renato’s coaching staff didn’t know him and had never seen Ramon play... That invisible role is fundamental to this improvement.”

A close eye on the lower age groups ensured that promising pieces earned space in the senior squad even before attracting the attention of domestic rivals. By following youth training sessions and identifying rare technical qualities, the sporting management sped up the promotion of decisive players, turning the quiet work of the youth divisions into immediate results in the season’s knockout competitions.

Felipe is Vasco’s technical director — Photo: Matheus Lima/Vasco

Shared decisions and alignment at Vasco

The chemistry at the top of Vasco’s football department was summed up by Admar Lopes as a relationship of complete complementarity with Felipe in guiding sporting strategy. The football director emphasized the mutual respect in decision-making: “He has the ability to understand the game and has the vision of a coach, which he once was. He is someone very easy and very humble to work with day to day in all our exchanges, and I think we complement each other. All technical decisions are approved by me and Felipe.”

This shared governance model protects the professional environment and gives stability to the dressing room ahead of the Copa Sudamericana and Copa do Brasil semifinals. With roles clearly divided and integrated processes between scouting, development, and first-team performance, the Rio club is consolidating a modern management structure to keep competing for trophies at a high level.