MEET MACIEL

Andy Maciel has over 25 years of experience as a football and futsal coach. He has dedicated his career to developing young players and helping them achieve their full potential on the field. Futsal has played a major role in the development of the young players he has worked with, including a number who have progressed into a career as professional football players in the EPL, EFL, SPL, and PL (Portugal). Additionally, many players he has coached have received US scholarships.

​

Andy has been mentored by Albert Capellas and Raymond Verheijen, both are world-renowned coaches and coach educators. His passion for position/possession-based football led him to Catalunya, where he has established a partnership and a close friendship with Albert Capellas and Cruyff Football. He first studied with Raymond Verheijen in 2019, his teaching had an immediate impact on Andy's thinking and understanding of player development as well as coaching in general.His studies with both his mentors are on-going.

Andy's initial travel to Catalunya brought him to Futbol Salou, where he developed a strong relationship, spanning over a decade. The centre is the biggest football facility in Spain outside of RM training facility, and Andy has taken squads there for the past 8 years, providing a fantastic experience for young players. They attend sessions delivered by his Spanish colleagues and play Football and Futsal against local sides, and the trip culminates in a tour of FCB Camp Nou.!

​

Coach Maciel has worked extensively within Leatherhead, Cobham, Epsom, and Tolworth since deciding to pursue a coaching career in football. He began by coaching teams privately and built a highly successful football school in Tolworth. He spent a decade with the successful Kingston College (Staines Town FC) educational academy. During his tenure at Leatherhead Youth, spanning approximately ten years, Andy coached and designed a development program, a course for parent managers and in-house club coaches, and a parent's guide. He focused on recognizing all abilities and ensuring that children played at appropriate challenge levels. Andy also introduced off-field coaching, providing guidance on areas such as nutrition, healthy lifestyle, sleep, breathing, and dealing with pressure.

​

Over the years, Andy has formed two grassroots (GR) clubs and gained a deep understanding of the associated challenges. He has reflected on and evaluated his experiences, storing this knowledge to inform his coaching approach. His experiences in Spain, Denmark, and Belgium have been particularly enlightening and valuable.

As a dedicated member of the Surrey Football Coaches Association for thirty years, Andy has actively contributed to the association's work. He has also served on their committee for a number of years, further demonstrating his commitment to the coaching community.