Yamada in Portugal: ex-Corinthians youth chief reflects on past

In partnership with

Central do Timão

·8 September 2025

Yamada in Portugal: ex-Corinthians youth chief reflects on past

By Vinícios Cotrim | Central do Timão Editorial Team

The former player trained in the youth divisions of Corinthians, Fernando Yamada, is currently an executive at Portimonense, a club in the Portuguese second division of football. To reach Europe, he served as one of the managers at the People's Team base between 2017 and 2021, and he notices differences in the club models.

“Corinthians, in general, has always managed to shield its departments very well, both professional and youth. Now, obviously, it is a political club. During my time there, the challenge was to try to manage a club company within an associative club. But they managed to shield my work very well, so I didn't have much access to the club's politics, and I was there just to work.“, said the professional to GE.

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Photo: Disclosure/Portimonense

After retiring, Yamada invested in a career as an executive and managed to create a network of contacts, which he can use in the clubs he passes through. Before being hired by the Portuguese club at the beginning of this year, he was with Athletico-PR, serving as manager of Furacão, when the club was a finalist in the Libertadores in 2022.

“I was part, for many years, of the movement of Brazilian football managers. So, I can interact very well with presidents, sports directors, coaches, which is a facilitator. I can communicate in real-time to seek information and opportunities.“, he said.

“I have friends in major clubs in Brazilian and world football, professionals who worked with me during my time at Corinthians, Atlético, who are now at Arsenal, there are MLS clubs, Flamengo, Botafogo, I always liked interacting with these professionals because they are on the factory floor.“, Yamada added.

Under his participation in the youth division, Timão had one of the generations that produced the most fruits in the club's recent history. Players like Pedrinho, Gabriel Pereira, Wesley, Moscardo, and Breno Bidon began to gain prominence when the former goalkeeper was acting as an executive in the department.

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