Benfica Coaches Join Hapoel Hadera to Lead Youth Development

Hapoel Hadera has welcomed two coaches from Benfica Lisbon, Paulo Reis and Andre Salvado, who arrived in Israel early on August 2, 2026, to serve as coordinators for the club's youth department. This move is part of a collaboration between the two clubs aimed at implementing Benfica's coaching methodology across all youth teams at Hapoel Hadera.

Paulo Reis, 50, is a Portuguese football coach with over 20 years of experience, including seven years at Benfica Lisbon. He holds a degree in physical education and has coached both senior and youth teams in Portugal and China. His expertise spans player development, team management, and professional planning at various competitive levels.

Andre Salvado, 36, brings more than 15 years of coaching experience, including a role as an analyst for Benfica's senior team during seasons when the club competed in the UEFA Champions League and won the Portuguese championship. He is recognized for his leadership, team management, advanced tactical analysis, and youth player development. Salvado has also worked with leading clubs in Portugal and China.

Both coaches will introduce Benfica's training system to Hapoel Hadera's youth teams. This initiative comes as Hapoel Hadera's youth squads, including the under-19, under-17, and under-15 teams, all compete in Israel's top youth leagues. The senior youth team returned to the Israeli Premier League this past summer, highlighting the club's focus on strengthening its youth development program.