Stars of the Future
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BY CONSTANTLY UPHOLDING THE ATHLETES' CAREERS ON ANY OCCASION.

IN THE BEGINNING

The future stars rise from their home

We help young athletes and their families during their first steps in the world of professional sport. We show them the importance of studying, and help the family in knowing how to make decisions that will help build a successful career.

OUR SERVICES

WE KNOW THAT TEAMS AND AGENTS PLAY AN ESSENTIAL
ROLE IN AN ATHLETE'S LIFE AND SUCCESS.

We support football Clubs

We offer financial solutions for teams and support in managing the athlete's personal life, so that they can concentrate on one thing only: top performance!

OUR SERVICES

We support coaches

They hold the keys to development and success as they have the most influence on athletes’ lives. They are their guides and as such they must be prepared to help them find their path. Their critical role necessitates deep knowledge, integrity and specialist support. We undertake to prepare them properly for their difficult and important task.

OUR SERVICES

We support agents

They are the best at managing athletes' professional life. We take care of their personal life and training.

OUR SERVICES

ROAD TO SUCCESS.

Zuela Francisco is the man behind Stars of the Future.
It was through his career and life experiences that he became familiar with the problems of the world of sport. This is his journey.

Zuela Francisco is the man behind Stars of the Future.
It was through his career and life experiences that he became familiar with the problems of the world of sport. This is his journey.

1990

At the age of seven he started his apprenticeship with the football club União de Leiria, where he remained until he was eighteen. From an early stage he noticed the difference between those who, like him, gave more importance to their studies, and those who just wanted to play football.

1999-2002

Despite the hard training he never left school behind. When he was seventeen years old he started taking courses in Financial Management. At the same time, he successfully completed his internship program in AXA insurance company.

2001

Still at União de Leiria he met the man who would become his great master: José Mourinho. Although he was not a professional, he would train with the first team very often, and with the coach’s help he learned all there was to know about football. Also during that period he met his first football agent, Nuno Rolo.

“It was early in my career that I heard about a kid with great potential. At the end of a training session we chatted for a while. I was won over by his attitude. It was most unusual for a kid from the junior squad to seek out the first team coach in the dressing room to talk about himself.”

Nuno Rolo

SPORTS AGENT

2002

At the age of 18 he felt he was ready to leave the club where he had taken his first steps. For Zuela the apprenticeship was over and a new phase was beginning.

2005

When the opportunity came to play in Greece, Zuela felt no doubt that it was the right course. Since he didn’t want to go against his contract, he tried to talk with his club’s directors, but to no avail. His only recourse was asking for help to the Professional Footballers’ Union, through the voice of Joaquim Evangelista.

“(Zuela) has demonstrated throughout his career enormous corporative spirit, indefense of the players’ rights and solidarity spirit with his colleagues.”

Joaquim Evangelista

PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF THE PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLERS’ UNION

2005

It was in Greece that he managed to put into practice all he had learned about the way football works - in the birthplace of democracy and education. He worked directly with the board of the club for which he played, and was instrumental in the acquisition of a number of players.

“I had started to feel I didn't belong. I lost heart. So I left and went to Greece through the good offices of Zuela Francisco. I only played four matches; maybe I missed someone to guide me.”

Maciel

PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLER, IN AN INTERVIEW TO NOTÍCIAS AO MINUTO

“At a time when I was having problems I got a phone call from Zuela, a friend of mine for more than 10 years. Already then he had great powers of observation and analysis of players, and was able to see the game and the business. He helped me to find a solution for my professional future.”

Chiquinho

PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLER

2012

He returned to Angola as he was selected to represent the National team for the qualified games of the Africa Cup of Nations. It was a big opportunity for him to learn more from his coach João Silva and his teammates.

“He always sought to understand football’s underlying questions. We had conversations about the right way to lead, coach and play. He always pinpointed the most fundamental issues. The level of his thinking struck me and I was always wondering how someone who plays football could have such a vision. He would put emphasis on in matters regarding the post-football life, which is a truly challenging issue, since athletes’ careers are very short.”

João Silva

ANGOLAN NATIONAL COACH

2013

After the Africa Cup of Nations, he faced serious personal problems. Therefore he had to decide either to leave his personal matters unsolved and return to his team or to take a short time off. Willing to deal with his personal problems once and for all he asked for a leave.

Upon his return, being aware that lack of emotional stability could affect his performance and ultimately his team, he requested not to participate in a game. In return the Board cut his salary without providing a single support during his difficult time. He understood that many Clubs do not aim to protect their players and do not truly care about their players’ emotional state.

2014

It was during preparations for his post career life when he was rejoined with José Mourinho, who was coaching Chelsea at that time.

“He was my player in Portugal, so I know his character, personality, moral principles and the will to learn and to prepare himself to always be more competent. He wanted to participate in several areas, from training of the professional team, to the academy, the aspects related to talent scouting and the club organization and management as a company. I recognize potential in Zuela, and above all a huge wish to prepare himself for the future after the career as a player.”

José Mourinho

PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL COACH

2014

While in 2014, he decides to continue his career in an Angolan team. There was no doubt: only by playing in an African team could perceive why African players could not equally succeed in Europe, therefore complete his preparation for his life after football.

2014-2015

He was becoming increasingly aware that a footballer's life outside the field was not a priority for the Clubs, which are interested exclusively for their players’ performance. In 2014, an injury forced him to visit Portugal in order to be treated by Doctor José Noronha. During that time, his teammate Silva Kussanda also travelled to Portugal to have a surgery, without support from his club. Zuela opens his house to him and takes care of every necessary detail in order to ensure that his friend can have his family next to him, at a time when his life was in danger.

“At a time when no-one - not even the club that employed me - would help, he was the only person who gave me a helping hand.”

Silva Kussanda

PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLER

“(Zuela) is much different from all other footballers. He is an honest and simple man. He has been a great footballer, but I think that he has a greater future as technical director. Believe me, in 3-4 years, much more people will talk about him and his achievements in football.”

José Carlos Noronha

DOCTOR (EXTRACT FROM AN INTERVIEW)

Throughout his career, he was always keen on expanding his knowledge. He remained committed in furthering his education and today speaks six languages. Since most of his career was abroad, Zuela could only finish his course in Financial Management when he returned to Portugal. His persistence in obtaining his degree concluded with his nomination as the ambassador of INETESE, the academy from which he graduated.

“It was with surprise that, 17 years later, I was contacted by Mr Zuela with a view to his completing the course. He told me that he wanted to tackle what he perceived to be one of the football industry’s thorny issues: the management of footballers finances’.”

António Antunes

DIRECTOR OF THE INETESE TECHNICAL SCHOOL

JUNE 2015

At the end of 2015, he ended his career as a professional footballer. Having gained a lot of experience and having having seen first hand how things operate, there was no doubt that he had the capacity to make sportsmen aware of their potentials, as well as to believe in their own value.

SEPTEMBER 2015

Stars of the Future is born to make a difference!

“At the age of 21, I was transferred to Chelsea, where I was supposed to practice with the players of the second team but I didn’t play at all. I was upset, I wanted to leave and in the end I was transferred back to Real de Massamá in Portugal. How could I be OK with this? I was a kid at the age of 16, who had already been selected for the Euro 2004, among the best players in the world! Among them Figo, Ronaldo and many others. Two generations of the best players in the world and I was the only one who got lost. There was no one to offer me structured knowledge of both sides of the coin. There was no one to help me or to guide me. I don’t like to judge anybody, but I know that most of the things people say about me are not true. I didn’t' the get the opportunity to express my views. Once again I am a member of the football community and I owe this to someone, who had the required knowledge and who truly believed in my value. This is the reason why this project is going to change the world of football.”

Fábio Paim

PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYER

But his story has only just begun.
Today, Zuela Francisco is the director and founder of three running Sporting Clube de Portugal football academies in Greece and Cyprus. It’s a historic event as these are the first Sporting Academies in Europe, outside of Portugal. Young players have the opportunity to learn from the values of the only team that prepares its athletes for high professional level. A team that counts with six Ballons d’Or and which has co-operated with the best coaches in Portugal. These academies and Stars Of The Future are part of an educational and sports project. Their work show that the time has come for the players and their families to live up to their potential.

TESTIMONIALS

“For every athlete, education is the foundation for a successful life, during or after his career. Congratulations to Zuela, my friend and partner.”

Kátia Aveiro

CRISTIANO RONALDO'S SISTER

“I congratulate him for having been able to take all the right steps, from his pursuit of education to his search for knowledge through other professionals of the sport, all towards his great goal of improving the ways of world football, and looking to nurture more rounded athletes!”

Ricardo Balbeira

SPORTS CONSULTANT

“Zuela Francisco has been an honorable partner, who respects his commitments. His goal, through his company, is to help and support young athletes to achieve their best possible future.”

Rui Reis

SPORTING CLUBE DE PORTUGAL TECHNICAL DIRECTOR/h6>

TESTIMONIALS

“I believe in Francisco’s abilities not only because he was a great athlete but mostly because he is an honorable man. During his course as a football player he was constantly training, hard working and willing to expand his knowledge. He could easily perform various duties such as technically coordinating professional football clubs, organizing or establishing youth academies, scouting, etc.“

George K. Stratos

PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD, GREEK SUPER LEAGUE

“When I was proposed to be Stars of the Future's accountant, I accepted because I believed in Mr. Zuela's skills, knowledge and vision for the future. He is passionate about his project and he has so many goals to achieve. He knows what he wants and what he has do in order to succeed.”

Clarisse Vieira

STARS OF THE FUTURE ACCOUNTANT IN PORTUGAL

"In my opinion, Zuela was a football player so he could get here, a pretext to understand the world of football and its needs. Zuela the player is today Francisco, the businessman, because for years he prepared himself for it. I’m proud to be part of his team and of his intention to help millions of athletes to live a better life. "

Bruno Ferrer

BUSINESS CONSULTANT IN STARS OF THE FUTURE

TESTIMONIALS

“I knew Zuela in a difficult context for him: the recovery of an injury contracted as a football professional. I was quickly captivated, beyond his fascinating footballer career, with his high human values, of which I can highlight honesty, kindness, and gratitude. He will quickly become a prominent figure in his current professional field because his concern about the lives of athletes beyond football and his vision of this problems will be highly valued. He is someone who can speak, from personal experience!“

Pedro Afonso

LEGAL CONSULTANT FOR STARS OF THE FUTURE IN PORTUGAL

“When I firstly met Zuela he won me over by demonstrating exceptionally kind behavior and long experience in the industry of football. Now he is starting a new career. His purpose is to pass on his knowledge and his experience to young generations. According to his philosophy every athlete shall be provided with the necessary tools in order to stand against the challenges in the industry of sports as well as in everyday life. ”

Georgios Patsalis

ACCOUNTANT FOR STARS OF THE FUTURE IN GREECE

TESTIMONIALS

“Zuela played on my team in his last year as a professional. It can be a difficult time for some athletes because their routine changes, and they lose or don’t have any news goals in life. It didn’t happen in this case because long before ending his career, Zuela was already educating and preparing himself for the future.“

Diogo Almeida

PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL COACH IN SPORTING CLUBE DE BRAGA

“Stars of the Future is the company that we trust and we believe that they can help our kid to expand his skills.  Mr Zuela knows the way and can provide guidance and assistance to our kid. That is the reason we trust him and his company.”

Tsirigotis’ family

PARENTS OF AN ATHLETE IN SPORTING CP SOCCER ACADEMY ATHENS

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