Renan Lopes

Position: Coach B13 Black

Email: renanlopes9806@gmail.com

Phone: 714.586.0601

Renan Lopes Monteiro began his football development in Brazil, progressing through the youth academies of Guarani F.C, A.A. Internacional de Limeira, and Rio Branco E.C. He competed in six Campeonato Paulistas across youth categories and three Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior, earning selection to the professional squad during his final years in Brazil.

Upon moving to the United States, Monteiro continued his playing career at Riverland Community College, where he earned multiple honors, including All-Region, All-Conference, and Defender of the Year.

He completed his collegiate career at Marymount California University, helping the program reach the NAIA National Tournament in his senior season.

Education/Licenses:
US Soccer D License

Coaching Experience:
Monteiro began his coaching career in 2020 with Culture, where he gained foundational experience working alongside senior coaching staff. In 2021, he took on his own team, a role he continues to hold.

In 2023, he joined Stanton University as an assistant coach, contributing to the establishment of a new collegiate program. His responsibilities included recruitment, player development, training design, and program management, working closely with student-athletes and families from diverse backgrounds.

In 2025, Stanton University entered its inaugural season as an NAIA program. The team posted an impressive 11–2 record, secured the Cal Pac Regular Season Championship, and Monteiro was honored as Coach of the Year for his contributions to the program’s early success.

With a foundation shaped by Brazilian academy football and collegiate competition in the United States, Renan Lopes Monteiro brings a strong technical background, an analytical coaching approach, and a proven track record of developing players and programs.

Coaching Influences:
My path into coaching was shaped by my own playing experience. Growing up in rigid systems where creativity was often overlooked, I recognized how quickly the joy of the game could be lost. These experiences inspired me to become the type of coach I wished I had one who nurtures freedom, expression, and passion rather than restricting them.

Coaching Philosophy:
In the tactical and technical aspects, my style of play can be identified by the way the team builds out from the back, always guided by three principles: ball circulation, player movement, and the intention to draw opponents in. Intense pressure across the entire field is one of the main features of the defensive phase. Overall, the team’s organization without the ball aims to recover possession as quickly as possible.

However, football goes far beyond that for me. I strive to inspire in my athletes the joy and dream of playing the game. In contrast to many clubs that treat players as mere pieces of a system, I see the human being who plays the game. The distortion of values in many youth environments creates situations where results become more important than the social development of young players. As a consequence, their growth often leads them to become withdrawn, frustrated, and at times disrespectful toward coaches and even their families.

Bringing the lightness and freedom of street football into the professionalism of the modern game is my greatest mission.

This philosophy began with my own experience as a player. Forced to play in a rigid positional system, my creativity and instincts were overlooked by my coaches. That is where I diverge from many professionals in the sport: the dream, the joy, and the creativity of the game are non-negotiable pillars of my coaching style.

My 3 Favorite Things About Coaching:
Developing people not only players, creating a positive team culture and changing lives through the sport.

Fun facts about me:
I have passion for cooking and music. I even had a band in the past.

Favorite coaching moments:
My first ever tournament with the 2013 in Palo Alto where we made to the finals. The National tournament with Stanton in 2024 and the San Clemente Cup the first ever tournament I won with my kids.

Favorite Football moments:
• Sao Paulo 2005 Club World Cup Final against Liverpool
• Brazil vs Germany 2002 World Cup Final

Favorite all-time players:
Pele, Messi, Maradona, Ronaldo Fenomeno and Johann Cruyff

Favorite team:
São Paulo F.C.

Other interesting things about me:
My favorite food is Feijoada and I am fluent in 3 languages: Portuguese, English and Spanish.