Valeo International’s staff consists of passionate, dedicated, UEFA-licensed coaches with decades of experience working with some of the top clubs and training academies in Europe. The staff’s only goal is to work with each and every player to help them reach their potential and accomplish their footballing dreams.
President & Founder, Valeo Futbol Club & Valeo Foundation Director of Methodology – Junior Academy & Training Academy
Coach Emelio founded Valeo FC in 2008. His passion was to create the best soccer training environment for ambitious and passionate players. His mission was to provide equal opportunity and access to elite soccer training, and all of its life-skill benefits, for all committed players regardless of socioeconomic or geographic boundaries.
Coach Emelio brings over 20 years of youth coaching experience including Oakwood (CT), Hammer (MA), and Valeo FC. He played collegiate soccer at Southern Connecticut University including 4 NCAA National Championship runs and 2 wins.
Coach Emelio is a master of engaging and teaching very young players. He utilizes his innate talent, calm demeanor, and focus on fun, to connect with and inspire our youngest athletes to become confident on the ball and love the game.
Coach Emelio is committed to excellence as a player, a person, and a coach. He instills that in every Valeo player. He developed Valeo’s Personal Excellence Program to provide players with not only elite futbol training but also the skills and passion to be a leader and to create a positive social impact. He firmly believes soccer is a metaphor for life, and that the global sport of soccer is a vehicle for opportunity and positive change in the world.
Head of Valeo Europe
Botas brings a tremendous amount of experience both in coaching and as a player, along with a plethora of experience coaching in the United States and in Portugal, most recently with Sporting Lisbon. Botas is currently serving as the head coach of Valeo’s National Premier Soccer League team in Newton, Massachusetts.
As the head of Valeo Europe, Botas will be responsible for all aspects of coaching the Valeo players who come to train at the program and developing their footballing and educational goals.
Coach Botas currently holds his UEFA B license, and has a Masters degree in Sport Training with a specialization in football in the faculty of human kinetics.
As a player, Botas was a part of Industrial Desportivo Vieirense from 2002-2014 in Portugal’s 5th division. From there, Botas began his youth coaching career with Associação Desportiva da Estação as their U10 coach before moving on to clubs like Marítimo Futebol Clube de Rosário, Clube Desportivo Vila Franca do Rosário, Sporting Clube de Portugal (famously Cristiano Ronaldo’s former club), and BE1 NFA in Lithuania where he lead a regional and national championship team with the U16 and U19’s respectively.
Sports Director of Valeo Europe
Castelo brings with him over 15 years of coaching and administrative experience, and has scouted internationally for countries like the U.S., Spain, England, Scotland, and many more.
As Sports Director of Valeo Europe, Castelo will oversee every aspect of Valeo Europe’s programs, including but not limited to the coaches, facilities, staff members, and the players brought into the programs. Castelo currently holds his UEFA B License, and is fluent in English, Portuguese, Spanish, and French.
From 2004-2006, Castelo acted as the Youth Football Coordinator and U19 Sports Director for Clube Desportivo Mafra in Portugal before moving to the Seniores B Team Sports Director in 2007, and then as the U13 head coach in 2008. Then, from 2008-2010 he took on the role of Youth Football Coordinator and Head Coach for the U13 and U15 teams for Atlético Clube Malveira in Portugal. Since then, Castelo has acted as a Youth Football coordinator and Youth Head Coach for clubs like Alcainça Atlético Clube and Mafra City Hall Football School until 2016. From 2016-2018, Castelo took on a larger role as the Recruitment and Scouting Coordinator at Sporting Club Portugal. Since then, Castelo has acted as the Sports Director and Youth Football Coordinator, Recruiting and Scouting for GD Oásis Atlântico, 1st Division in Cape Vert – África.
“Dario will make a great addition to the Valeo Europe staff” said Valeo FC Founder and President Emelio Williams, “his vast experience matched with his passion for elite youth development will propel Valeo Europe’s programs into the premier academy in Europe.”
