In Conversation with Jeremiae Lopes from Palmeiras

15 June 2025

“The players are exposed to an exceptionally high level here”

Jeremiae Lopes (48) is one of the coaches at Palmeiras and also fluent in German, due to a 27-year stay in Germany. He has been back in Brazil for a year now, and also back at Palmeiras. Previously, he worked with the Palmeiras U-21 team, and now he is coaching the U-15 team.

This is his first time at the tournament, and he is impressed by the overall atmosphere.
“My role at Palmeiras is to serve as the specialist coach for the three lines on the field — defense, midfield, and attack. The goalkeepers have their own dedicated trainers. My focus is on refining the players’ technical skills and helping them continue developing to a higher level. I also lead a special academy myself, where technical ability is always the foundation. I’ve been back at Palmeiras for a year now and accepted their offer to return.”

Competition

“In Brazil, we play in the São Paulo league, which has just started again. We have enough players for two squads — one is currently playing in Brazil, and the other, basically the starting eleven, is here. Before this, we played in a tournament in Hollage, Germany, near Osnabrück, and we won it. The conditions there were totally different — cold and rainy — while here it’s hot and sunny! It’s great for the players to experience this contrast.

These tournaments are incredibly valuable because they bring together many cultures and playing styles, and the players are exposed to an exceptionally high level of football. They gain a lot of experience. Our youth are highly enthusiastic and motivated and really want to perform. It’s also a challenge for us as coaches: how do our boys handle things like high-pressure situations and pressing?

It’s fantastic here — top-notch organization, delicious and quality food, and great accommodations. The boys have space to relax and enjoy themselves, which is important too.”