Melbourne Victory have appointed Paulo Cardoso as the club’s Academy Director.
Cardoso, from Portugal, has vast experience, most notably during his time at Sporting Lisbon where he played a role in recruiting, coaching and developing a number of world-class players including Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani, Ricardo Quaresma and Tottenham’s Eric Dier.
The appointment demonstrates the club’s ambition to establish an elite football academy to produce and develop talent to the highest possible level to benefit the club, as well as Australian football as a whole.
“Paulo’s appointment as Academy Director is a crucial step for Melbourne Victory as we continue to develop plans for our football academy,” said Victory CEO Ian Robson.
“Paulo has incredible experience in player development, scouting and coaching all over the world, over a sustained period of time.”
After spending over a decade at the Portuguese giants, Cardoso has in recent years taken up talent recruitment roles in South Africa, Brazil and Saudi Arabia.
“I’m excited about this opportunity to join Melbourne Victory and I’m looking forward helping the club establish its football academy,” Cardoso said.
“Through my experience in developing footballers overseas, I understand the importance of clubs having an elite pathway for player development.
“I’m looking forward to working with the key football staff, current youth team coaches and, more broadly, key club executives and external stakeholders to start to bring the project together.”
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