Abel Ferreira shares methods, links Academy and first team at Palmeiras

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·17 Juli 2026

Abel Ferreira shares methods, links Academy and first team at Palmeiras

Before the season resumed, Abel Ferreira used the mid-season break to further strengthen the relationship between the professional squad and the youth academy teams at Palmeiras. This Wednesday (15), the coach led a talk for the Academy’s youth team coaches at the Football Academy, sharing his working methodology, experiences in player development, and concepts used in the first team’s day-to-day routine.

The activity was attended by youth coordinator João Paulo Sampaio, coaches and assistants from every age group, from Under-10 to Under-20, as well as members of the club’s scouting department. After a presentation on his coaching philosophy, Abel answered questions and discussed topics related to the development of young players.

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With experience in the youth ranks of Sporting and Braga, both from Portugal, the coach spoke about his journey in football, the transition from player to coach, and the challenges of developing athletes. For Abel, the moment also served as an opportunity to hear from the professionals who work daily in Palmeiras’ academy.

With the extra time provided by the mid-season break, we can prepare our team and, at the same time, exchange ideas with the academy coaches. The goal was to share a bit of my professional experience and also listen to them. Talking about youth development is something I particularly enjoy and know well, because I spent many years coaching at that level.

Since arriving at Palmeiras in November 2020, Abel Ferreira has given opportunities to 51 players developed at the Football Academy in the first team. During the conversation, the coach highlighted that player development goes beyond technical aspects and stressed the importance of human support during the transition to the professional level.

Currently, the green-and-white squad includes six club-developed players: Kaique, Arthur, Benedetti, Larson, Allan, and Luighi. In addition to them, Erick Belé, Luis Pacheco, and Riquelme Fillipi have also been used by Abel in first-team matches this season.

Under-17 coach Artur Itiro said the conversation brought important reflections on the athlete development process.

One thing that really stood out to me was how he highlighted the patience he had with several players who needed more time to adapt. Alongside his staff, he was patient enough to wait for that player’s development, providing all the support needed so the player could deliver the expected performance.

Meanwhile, Under-13 coach Leto Ramos emphasized the human approach presented by the Portuguese manager.

Abel didn’t speak to us only as coaches, it was about life as well. He spoke a lot about encouraging players, taking away their fear, and giving them autonomy so they can develop creativity. That is very much in line with Palmeiras’ academy methodology.

The initiative is part of the integration promoted by Palmeiras between its youth development categories and professional football, a model that has been one of the club’s pillars in recent years and has helped establish the Football Academy as one of the country’s leading player development centers.

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