CAREER

From youth coach to
technical director

I am Alexandre Grasseli, a football coach and technical director, with a degree in Physical Education from the Federal University of Viçosa and the CBF Academy PRO Licence. Football runs in the family: I am the grandson and son of youth coaches.

Alexandre Grasseli standing on the pitch with his foot on the ball

25years at clubs

15clubs

900+matches

600players developed

3countries

PROCBF Licence

2001–2013 · YOUTH FOOTBALL

América-MG and Cruzeiro

I started in 2001 as fitness coach of América-MG’s U-17s and soon began coaching youth teams. At Cruzeiro, I coached from U-13 to U-20.

In 2010 we became unbeaten Brazilian U-20 champions. Many of the players from those teams went on to professional football.

Players from my Cruzeiro youth teams

DuduGabriel VasconcelosSebáLéo BonatiniVinícius AraújoÉlberAlissonLucas SilvaMayke

Alexandre Grasseli celebrating with medal and trophy, fist raised, for Cruzeiro — Minas Gerais U-17 champion with Cruzeiro, 2019 – my fourth state U-17 title at the club.

Alexandre Grasseli at his presentation at Petro de Luanda, holding a shirt with his name — Presentation at Petro de Luanda, Angola.

Alexandre Grasseli on the bench in Angola — On the bench in Angola.

2012–2017 · PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL

From Brazil to Angola

Then came professional football: Tupi, Nacional and Atlético Petróleos de Luanda in Angola, where we were runners-up in the 2014 Angola Cup.

Back in Brazil, I coached Rio Branco and Anápolis and was assistant coach of Sport’s first team.

2018–2023 · ACADEMY MANAGEMENT

Vasco da Gama

At Vasco, I coordinated the U-12 to U-20 age groups, coached the U-20s and led the first team as interim coach.

In 2019 I returned to Cruzeiro to coach the U-17s: state champions and the Evergrande Cup in China. Then came the U-23s at Cuiabá and Vitória and football management at Porto Vitória.

Alexandre Grasseli walking at Vasco's training centre — Vasco da Gama. Photo: Vasco da Gama.

Alexandre Grasseli watching an Al Riyadh Academy training session — Watching a training session at Al Riyadh Academy, 2026.

Alexandre Grasseli coaching an Al Okhdood session at night — Al Okhdood FC. Photo: Al Okhdood.

2024–TODAY · SAUDI ARABIA

Al Okhdood and Al Riyadh Academy

In 2024, after coaching Grêmio São-Carlense’s first team, I moved to Saudi Arabia as technical coordinator of Al Okhdood.

Since September 2026 I have been Technical Director of Al Riyadh Academy, where I implemented the Academy Management System.

ALL CLUBS

Timeline

15 clubs in 25 years, from the most recent to the first.
PERIOD	CLUB	ROLE
2026–	Al Riyadh Academy (Saudi Arabia)	Technical director
2024–2026	Al Okhdood FC (Saudi Arabia)	Technical coordinator
2024	Grêmio São-Carlense (SP)	First-team head coach
2023–2024	Porto Vitória FC (ES)	Football manager and head coach
2022	EC Vitória (BA)	U-23 head coach
2021	Cuiabá EC (MT)	U-23 head coach
2018–2021	CR Vasco da Gama (RJ)	Academy technical coordinator, U-20 head coach, interim and assistant first-team coach
2019	Cruzeiro EC (MG)	U-17 head coach, state champion
2017	Anápolis FC (GO)	First-team head coach
2017	Sport Club do Recife (PE)	First-team assistant coach
2016	Rio Branco EC (ES)	First-team head coach
2013–2015	Atlético Petróleos de Luanda (Angola)	First-team head coach
2012–2013	Nacional EC (MG)	First-team head coach
2012	Tupi FC (MG)	First-team head coach
2005–2013	Cruzeiro EC (MG)	U-13 to U-20 head coach and first-team assistant
2001–2009	América FC (MG)	Fitness coach and youth coach

TITLES

Career honours

2010Brazilian U-20 champion, unbeatenCruzeiro
2010Dallas Cup U-19, Super Group, unbeatenCruzeiro
2011Terborg and Den Haag tournaments, NetherlandsCruzeiro
2008Minas Gerais U-20 championAmérica-MG
2006–2019Minas Gerais U-17 champion four times: 2006, 2007 (unbeaten), 2009 and 2019Cruzeiro
2008–2010Copa Integração U-17 (2008 and 2009) and U-20 (2010)Cruzeiro
2006Copa Londrina U-15, unbeatenCruzeiro
2004Minas Gerais U-15 championAmérica-MG
2014Angola Cup runner-upPetro de Luanda

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

Football on three continents

Alexandre Grasseli with the Cruzeiro staff at the Evergrande Cup in China

Evergrande Cup, China

Cruzeiro U-17s at the international tournament in 2019.

CAF commentator

Commentator for South Africa’s SuperSport in its 2014 CAF coverage.

Alexandre Grasseli speaking at a lectern at the Saudi Arabian Football Federation

Saudi Federation

Presentation on the work at Al Okhdood at a Saudi Arabian Football Federation meeting.

TEACHER AND AUTHOR

Teaching is also developing

Along the way, I also taught on the CBF Academy A Licence course, lectured at universities and authored video courses. Today I bring this experience together in the Grasseli Football Systems method.

Tutor on the CBF Academy A Licence course (2019, 2020 and 2021)
Football and Futsal lecturer at UNIPAC (2004–2007) and FAGOC (2003–2004)
Lecturer on the Gama Filho postgraduate course (2010–2012) and guest lecturer on the UFV postgraduate course in Football
Author of 11 video courses on training, game systems and grassroots football (BD Empreendimentos – Canal 4)
Author of five e-books on the Grasseli Football Systems method

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

Seu Zezinho

“A player who is good with the ball must be good at school.”
Seu Zezinho (1905–1990), written in chalk on the board of his bar at the Sumaré Stadium

Football runs in the family. My grandfather, José Basílio de Souza, known as Seu Zezinho, was youth coach at Estrela do Norte Futebol Clube in Cachoeiro de Itapemirim (Espírito Santo) and developed generations of players. My father, also a Physical Education graduate, was a youth coach and fitness coach of Estrela’s first team. I grew up in that environment and played in the club’s youth teams before I started coaching.

This chapter is a tribute to my grandfather and my father, who taught me that developing players is, above all, developing people.