About João Rangel

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Who is João Rangel?

I am João Castelo Branco Rangel Miguel, born on 19 November 1994 in Lisbon, and I am a football coach specialised in individual player development. I work with athletes of various ages and competitive contexts, from district football to players in national and professional environments.

Before developing this individual support project, I built my path in team football. Since 2015, I have worked across different youth age groups and also in senior football, covering virtually every stage of the development pathway. That experience in team coaching allowed me to understand, from the inside, the demands of clubs, the role of the team coach, the natural limitations of a context with many players, and the importance of complementing that work with more individualised support.

Since February 2023, I have carried that experience into my own individual support method, built on scientific literature, technical-tactical knowledge acquired over the years, and practical experience in player development.

My academic background is equally solid: I completed the Football Coach Level I / UEFA C course in 2019, the Master’s in Football — from Development to High Performance at Universidade Lusófona in 2021, and the Professional Sports Coach Title — Level II / UEFA B. I also attended two semesters of a Doctorate in Physical Education and Sport, focused on Exercise Physiology applied to Football, and strengthened my path with further training in physical exercise.

Although I was never a federated football player, that limitation became the engine of my career. The frustration of not having had enough quality to succeed as a player drove me to seek more knowledge and to develop a deep passion for coaching, science, and individual development. Today, that experience gives me a very particular empathy for understanding young athletes’ frustrations and offering them what I felt I lacked as a child: individual support, scientific guidance, and someone dedicated to solving their problems on the pitch.

The motto “More than training” comes precisely from this vision: my work is not only about designing exercises. It is about supporting the player as a whole, helping them develop technically, physically, psychologically, and competitively.

Why am I the right person to help your child?

If you are reading this text as a father, mother, or guardian, you are probably looking for more than someone who gives your child another session each week.

You are looking for someone who looks at them in detail. Someone who understands what is blocking their development. Someone who helps them regain confidence. Someone who understands the technical, physical, and emotional difficulties that often go unseen in team training.

You are looking for someone who can turn frustration into work, fear into confidence, and insecurity into preparation.

That is why my motto is More than training.

Because my work is not limited to designing exercises. My work is to support the player as a whole: technique, physical qualities, confidence, mentality, ability to deal with mistakes, work habits, and preparation to respond better to the problems of the game.

And why do I know I am the right person to help your child? Because my track record shows it.

Over the past years, I have supported athletes who reached Sporting Clube de Portugal, the women’s national team, the Lisbon District Selection, national championship sides, Primeira Liga contexts, and even professional athletes with UEFA Conference League experience.

These cases do not mean everyone will follow the same path. But they show that with method, support, detail, high standards, and trust, a player can transform.

Why am I the right person to help you?

If you are a player reading this, you may feel you have more to give.

Maybe you know you have quality, but still cannot show it consistently in matches. Maybe you are afraid of making mistakes. Maybe you have lost confidence. Maybe you feel there are technical details holding you back. Maybe you are in a demanding competitive context and feel you need to prepare better.

I am not here simply to give you another session.

I am here to help you understand what is blocking your game and to build with you a process that helps you develop.

My work is to help you gain tools: better technique, better coordination, more confidence, greater awareness of your game, more capacity to deal with mistakes, and better preparation to compete.

Because More than training, the goal is to help you feel better prepared, more confident, and more able to show on the pitch what you can really be.

And why do I know I am the right person to help you? Because I have already helped other players transform their path.

I have supported athletes who reached Sporting Clube de Portugal, players from the national and district selections, players called up to national championship sides, athletes in professional contexts, and players who, above all, regained confidence and enjoyment in playing.

I do not promise shortcuts. I promise you method, high standards, detail, feedback, and commitment to your development.

Because the goal is not simply to train more. It is to train better, understand your game better, and feel that you are truly developing.

Education and sporting background

• I hold a degree in Environmental Engineering from Universidade Nova de Lisboa.
• I completed the Football Coach Level I / UEFA C course through the Lisbon Football Association.
• I completed the Master’s in Football — from Development to High Performance at Universidade Lusófona.
• I am a certified trainer, with a Pedagogical Competences Certificate.
• I hold the Professional Sports Coach Title — Level II / UEFA B.
• I have been in team football since 2015, with experience across several youth age groups and in senior football, before creating the individual support project.
• I have experience with athletes at different competitive levels, including national championship athletes, young international players, and players in professional contexts.

Vision

The vision of this project goes far beyond technical or physical training: it is about creating a space where each player can grow holistically, working not only on on-pitch competences, but also on fundamentals such as injury prevention, coordination, confidence, discipline, and the capacity to overcome challenges.

One of the aspects that drives me most is the fear of making mistakes. That fear constrains creativity, limits decision-making, and stalls development. That is why I make a point of turning training into a safe space to fail, learn, and grow. Supported by scientific methods, deliberate repetitions, and continuous feedback, I help each player understand that making mistakes is an essential part of the development process.