Prior to the start of tryouts for the 26-27 season, Sting Nebraska revamped the ECNL – RL staff to better align with the organization’s goal of setting the highest standard for youth soccer development, naming Paulo Magalhaes as the new Girls ECNL – RL Program Director.
In addition to holding UEFA B certifications, Magalhaes brings a level of coaching and professional experience that raises the bar for Youth Soccer in Nebraska.
A life-long soccer fanatic, the Porto, Portugal, native knew he wanted to become a professional soccer player after seeing Brazil play at the 1982 World Cup in Spain and Maradona at the 1986 World Cup.
Magalhaes began his professional career playing for his local club’s Academy, FC Penafiel, before being promoted to the professional team competing in the Portuguese Premier League.
Following his playing career, he moved onto coaching for several academies of Premier League Clubs in Portugal, eventually achieving his dream of coaching his own favorite team, FC Porto.
Since then, Magalhaes has gone on to coach and serve as the Technical Director for multiple clubs across the globe in Brazil, India and the United States.
“The main lesson I took from all these experiences is that the language of soccer is universal and the love for the beautiful game is everywhere in spite of gender, culture and age,” Magalhaes said. “No matter where you are, one can teach and help players reach their full potential.”
Magalhaes also has connections to Nebraska, choosing to join the club after successfully advancing the assigned ECNL – RL program at the Colorado Rush.
“I came to Nebraska in 2013 for a year and half to work with the Lincoln YMCA and help the soccer program,” said Magalhaes. “I made friends for life here that I kept in contact with all these years and some even visited me and my family in Portugal.”
Now back in the Cornhusker State, he is ready to get to work in taking the Sting Nebraska ECNL – RL program to the next level as he has done at other clubs throughout his illustrious career. To that end, he has already set some goals and benchmarks he wants to hit to improve the program, with the goal of making it the best in the state.
“The short-term goal is to improve the program and implement a style of play that will help our teams compete so we can be stronger both individually and collectively,” Magalhaes stated. “Within the next five years, I want the club to be ready to play in the ECNL league.”
While talk is cheap, Magalhaes has proven experience achieving these results, as he took the Rush Boys Program in Denver to ECNL play in just three years while taking home an ECNL – RL regular season championship along the way.
“I am excited for the challenge of improving the program and helping our players find a new perspective so they can achieve their full potential,” said Magalhaes.
Want to be a part of the revamped program? Sting Nebraska tryouts are ongoing in Omaha from 6 – 9pm at the Chi Health Multisport Complex for the U13 and U14 age groups on Wednesday, May 13, and Thursday, May 14.
Tryouts for the U15 – 19 age groups are on Tuesday, May 26, and Wednesday, May 27, at CHI Health Multisport Complex from 6 – 9pm.
In Lincoln, U11 – U19 girl’s competitive tryouts are on Thursday, May 28, and Friday, May 29, from 6 – 9pm at the Lincoln Sports Foundation complex.
For more information and to register, CLICK HERE.
