São Paulo plan gradual integration of under-20 coach into first team | OneFootball

São Paulo intends to integrate coach Allan Barcellos, a multi-champion with the club’s U-20 team, into the professional team’s technical staff. This plan was revealed by president Harry Massis after the team’s runner-up finish in the Copinha, against Cruzeiro, last weekend.

Runner-up in the Copinha with São Paulo, Allan Barcellos is expected to begin the transition process to the professional squad later this season, while still splitting his attention with the U-20 team. In other words, he will remain in the youth setup but will also gain experience with the first team as a permanent member of the coaching staff.

Allan Barcellos recently renewed his contract with São Paulo, which valued the coach and extended his deal until the end of 2027.

(Photo: Rubens Chiri / São Paulo FC)

The intention of the new board, led by Harry Massis, is for the coach’s transition to the professional team to happen gradually, without skipping steps. The plan is to avoid throwing Barcellos ‘to the lions’ in case the first team suddenly needs him.

“He renewed until 2027, so we have two years. In these two years, we’ll make the transition. He’ll go to Barra Funda, stay with the staff, because it’s hard for a coach to leave the U-20, São Paulo’s youth system, rush things and take over right away. Several of them didn’t work out, so we’ll go slowly,” said the club president in an interview with the press after the Copinha final.

Massis, however, made it clear that there will be no changes to the technical staff at this time. “But let me make it clear that our coach is Crespo, and I want to keep him. He has the full support of the presidency,” he assured.

Allan Barcellos had a contract with São Paulo until January 2027, but decided to extend the deal for another 11 months, until the end of the same year. The U-20 coach received some inquiries, but the medium-term project presented by the club convinced him to stay.

Barcellos approves gradual transition

The gradual transition to the professional team has the approval of Allan Barcellos, who has always valued the process of moving up through the ranks without skipping stages, respecting every step in Cotia’s development process.

Barcellos did not set a deadline for the transition to be completed, but he is expected to attend the Barra Funda training center whenever his schedule allows during the U-20 season.

“I thank the president for commenting on my work. I believe it’s a natural process, just as it was for me in 2022, when I arrived at the U-12. A gradual process, respecting every stage, and now it will be no different. When this will happen depends a lot on what the club has planned for the transition of its professionals. It’s about always being ready to help the professional department and São Paulo, whenever that may be,” he said after the Copinha final.

Allan Barcellos’s career

Allan Barcellos came from Grêmio and was hired by São Paulo in 2022, developing professionally at the club. He initially took charge of the U-13 category and, the following year, moved up to the U-15 after passing through the U-14. Shortly after, he coached the U-16 and was then promoted to the U-17.

He took over the U-20 team in 2024. During this period, he reached six finals and won three titles: the 2024 and 2025 Copa do Brasil and the 2025 Copinha, in addition to runner-up finishes in the 2026 Copinha and the U-20 Paulista.

In total, Allan Barcellos has 204 games with São Paulo’s youth teams, with 124 wins, 43 draws, and 37 losses, as well as 502 goals scored and 196 conceded.

Academic background

Graduated in Physical Education from PUC-RS, Allan Barcellos holds postgraduate degrees in Football Specialization from both the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV) and SOGIPA, as well as an MBA in People Management from USP.

In addition to internal recognition at São Paulo, the coach has also completed all coaching licenses at the CBF Academy, currently holding the PRO License. He also has certificates in Methodological Coordination and Football Management, both from the same sports academic institution.

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