The Palms has a new coach. The club announced on Friday night the arrival of coach Abel Ferreira, who signed a two-season contract with the club until the end of 2022 season.
Palmeiras and PAOK finalized the deal and waited for the end of the midweek fixture to announce the agreement.
Abel Ferreira will bring four Portuguese colleagues who worked with him in Greece to compose his technical staff at Palmeiras.
His backroom staff will include Vitor Castanheira, Carlos Martinho, physical trainer João Martins and data analyst José Magalhães .
At 41, Abel Ferreira is one of the shining lights of the new generation of Portuguese coaches. The coach won the first chance in the European football elite in 2017, when he took charge of Braga, and quickly stood out.
For Braga in the 2017/2018 season, Abel Ferreira led the team to expressive numbers, breaking the club’s record in points in the Portuguese Championship, victories in the season and goals as well.
Since 2019, the Portuguese worked at PAOK, a club in which he ended the Greek vice-championship last year and, this season, eliminated Benfica and Jorge Jesus in the qualifiers for the Champions League.
✍️
Recado aos nossos adeptos: Abel Ferreira é do Verdão ➤ https://t.co/8pOVcfQrZzBem-vindo ao #MaiorCampeãoDoBrasil! #AvantiPalestra pic.twitter.com/vC1kJ3Pph9
— SE Palmeiras (de ) (@Palmeiras) October 30, 2020
The Portuguese signing ends a long-search of a replacement for more than two weeks since the departure of Vanderlei Luxemburgo. Before settling with Abel Ferreira, the palmeirense board negotiated with Miguel Ángel Ramírez from Independiente Del Valle. The Spanish coach, however, did not agree on the date to take over Palmeiras and declined the offer.
Palmeiras will next take on Atlético Mineiro in the Brasileirão on Monday.