Coach Education in Portugal: One Week Inside the Game

From December 9 to December 15, FuteBALLER hosted an intensive Coach Education program in Portugal designed for coaches who want more than theory. One week. Real football. Direct contact with Portuguese methodology, culture, and people who live the game every day.

FuteBALLER wanted to expose coaches from different backgrounds to how football actually works in Portugal in elite academies and lower divisions, as well as getting to know UEFA competitions and local league realities.

Football at the Highest Level

The group attended three very different matches.

Benfica vs Napoli in the UEFA Champions League showed the highest level of tactical detail and game intensity.

Sporting CP at home in a Portuguese league match offered insight into domestic competition and club identity.

To complete the perspective, coaches watched a major third division fixture, Belenenses vs Académica de Coimbra, highlighting competitiveness, tradition, and football culture beyond the top tiers.

Academy visits were a central part of the experience. Coaches visited both Benfica and Sporting academies, where they took part in lectures and discussions around player development, training methodology, and long term planning.

They also attended a UEFA Youth League match between Benfica and Napoli, connecting academy work directly to elite youth competition.

To balance the elite environments, the group visited a lower division academy. Seeing the contrast in facilities, resources, and daily operations helped coaches understand how methodology adapts to different contexts while maintaining clear football principles.

Beyond the pitch, coaches explored Lisbon and experienced the city’s culture. These moments outside football helped build relationships and open conversations that are often just as valuable as what happens on the training ground.

This Coach Education program was designed to be more than a one week experience. It created meaningful connections between coaches and the Portuguese football environment, laying the foundation for future collaboration and continued learning through FuteBALLER.