Learn more about SAS Futbol
SAS (South American Style) Futbol Academy is an established academy in the west of Greater Melbourne that has been developed to implement the South-American style of football development and training into Australian youth football. The aim of SAS Futbol is to bring the traditional, open style of South American football to the youth of Australia where the football is free-flowing and the focus is on attack.
SAS Futbol Founder, Enrique Santos brings with him vast coaching experience and a desire to develop young people – not only as footballers but also as respectful and focused young members of their communities who have the desire to improve themselves, both on-and-off the pitch.
Whilst SAS Futbol actively identifies and recruits elite level junior and youth players, we also provide other programs such as the Development Program for those working towards the elite level, as well as the Preparation Academy which help elite players transition from youth football into senior or professional level football, either domestically or overseas.
SAS Futbol Founder, Enrique Santos brings with him vast coaching experience and a desire to develop young people – not only as footballers but also as respectful and focused young members of their communities who have the desire to improve themselves, both on-and-off the pitch.
Whilst SAS Futbol actively identifies and recruits elite level junior and youth players, we also provide other programs such as the Development Program for those working towards the elite level, as well as the Preparation Academy which help elite players transition from youth football into senior or professional level football, either domestically or overseas.
Enrique Santos - Technical DirectorPedro ‘Enrique’ Santos was born in Montevideo, Uruguay. From humble beginnings, Enrique developed during his formative years as an elite level youth player, following in the footsteps of his father Pedro Santos who played for many years as a first division professional footballer in Uruguay, before progressing into senior coaching.
Over the past 20 years, Enrique has continued on his own path of football coaching and developing elite youth footballers. During that time traveling extensively, gaining vast football and coaching experience throughout South America and Australia. Along the way Enrique’s unique coaching methods have produced numerous professional male and female footballers that have played, and continue to play, not only in the A-League, but in some of the top international leagues in the world such as the German Bundesliga and the Argentine Primera Division- among others. “Champion people make champion players” – Enrique Santos, Head Coach and Founder of SAS Futbol Enrique’s extensive coaching experience has equipped him with the necessary skills to demonstrate the game and it’s tactics at the highest level. In addition, Enrique has developed the inter-personal skills required to provide a safe, developmental and professional environment at all times. From a tactical standpoint, Enrique employs and favors the practice of ‘Tactical Periodization’, made famous by the likes of FC Porto, their Dragon Force Academy, as well being implemented with tremendous success by world class coach Jose Mourinho. Individually, Enrique’s personal philosophy in his coaching and life comes from his primary focus – that human development must always be first and foremost – “Champion People Make Champion Players”. |
|
Coaching History
Coaching HistoryEnrique’s elite youth coaching experience stems back to 1999 when Enrique began privately coaching Kwame Yeboah, now a full-time first-team professional football player for German Bundesliga giant Borussia Monchengladbach.
As his passion for development of youth footballers progressed, Enrique spent the years 2005 and 2006 at two of South America’s top footballing clubs and academies where he was formally trained – Club Athletico River Plate of the Argentine Primera Division and Grêmio FBPA Porto Alegrense of the Brazilian Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.
Returning to Australia, Enrique took on the Technical Director role of the Bentleigh Greens FC Youth Program in 2007 where he continued on throughout 2008, also completing his coaching qualifications with Gremio FBPA Porto Alegrense of Brazil during his time at the club.
In 2009, Enrique became the Technical Director of Club Athletico River Plate Oceania Academy where he built and ran the development and elite academy programs over a period of 3 years – until 2012 when he moved to become the Assistant Technical Director of ‘Oceania’s Club of the Century’, South Melbourne FC. During Enrique’s time at South Melbourne FC he was in charge of the club’s advanced training programs, the professional youth development program along with the design and implementation of training programs for over 320 players and the responsibility of training and development of all junior club coaches.
Enrique continued with South Melbourne FC until he moved to Queensland to become the Technical Director of NR Football Academy, a professional development academy program for selected youth players in the Northern Rivers region of Queensland.
During his time at NR Football Academy, Enrique coached junior teams to success as champions of the Under-12 age level of the State of Origin Futsal Series as well as winning the Sydney International Cup, one of Australia’s most important junior tournaments featuring overseas clubs, in the Under-10 age level and placing 3rd in the Under-11 age level.
Most recently, Enrique Santos has returned to Melbourne to be closer to his family – a move that has seen him establish his own football academy, SAS Futbol, in the north-west of Melbourne where he is now re-connecting with many of the talented youth players that he worked with during his time in Melbourne with Bentleigh Greens FC, South Melbourne FC and the River Plate Academy.
As his passion for development of youth footballers progressed, Enrique spent the years 2005 and 2006 at two of South America’s top footballing clubs and academies where he was formally trained – Club Athletico River Plate of the Argentine Primera Division and Grêmio FBPA Porto Alegrense of the Brazilian Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.
Returning to Australia, Enrique took on the Technical Director role of the Bentleigh Greens FC Youth Program in 2007 where he continued on throughout 2008, also completing his coaching qualifications with Gremio FBPA Porto Alegrense of Brazil during his time at the club.
In 2009, Enrique became the Technical Director of Club Athletico River Plate Oceania Academy where he built and ran the development and elite academy programs over a period of 3 years – until 2012 when he moved to become the Assistant Technical Director of ‘Oceania’s Club of the Century’, South Melbourne FC. During Enrique’s time at South Melbourne FC he was in charge of the club’s advanced training programs, the professional youth development program along with the design and implementation of training programs for over 320 players and the responsibility of training and development of all junior club coaches.
Enrique continued with South Melbourne FC until he moved to Queensland to become the Technical Director of NR Football Academy, a professional development academy program for selected youth players in the Northern Rivers region of Queensland.
During his time at NR Football Academy, Enrique coached junior teams to success as champions of the Under-12 age level of the State of Origin Futsal Series as well as winning the Sydney International Cup, one of Australia’s most important junior tournaments featuring overseas clubs, in the Under-10 age level and placing 3rd in the Under-11 age level.
Most recently, Enrique Santos has returned to Melbourne to be closer to his family – a move that has seen him establish his own football academy, SAS Futbol, in the north-west of Melbourne where he is now re-connecting with many of the talented youth players that he worked with during his time in Melbourne with Bentleigh Greens FC, South Melbourne FC and the River Plate Academy.