Michael Palomo: a passionate soccer coach 

By Emmanuelle Champagne 

Soccer has held a special place in the heart of Michael Palomo, the head goalkeeper coach at the CF Montréal Academy, ever since he was a child. Originally from France, the head coach developed a keen interest in soccer at a young age. At age 11, he joined the renowned soccer club, Association Sportive de Cannes. He played soccer for that club until he was 19. 

Since he wasn’t signed to become a professional soccer player, he decided to set off on a journey around the world. England, Asia, the Caribbean, and Boston were the places where he was able to recharge and truly get to know himself as a person—not just as a soccer player. 

Sports have always been a priority in Michael Palomo’s daily life, ever since he was a child. So he needed to figure out who he was outside of the soccer field. 

“I needed to figure out who I really was, to try a different routine, and to find my place in life beyond being a soccer player,” says Michael Palomo.  

His search for identity came to an end here in Montreal. At the age of 23, he met the future mother of his two children.  Until he turned 32, he worked in the hospitality industry in Montreal. However, soccer was once again on his mind. That’s when he began attending soccer games, such as those played by CF Montréal. 

When passion still lives in the heart

Just sitting around watching soccer players on TV or at the stadium isn’t enough for him. He wants to reconnect with his passion on the field in a hands-on way. So he starts out as a coach in the amateur leagues. 

With an impressive resume under his belt, he quickly began receiving attractive offers. He began by joining the semi-professional league, Quebec League 1. (Formerly known as the Quebec Premier Soccer League/PLSQ.) He also became a coach for the Redbirds team at McGill University. He fell in love with the role of educator. He took several online courses to develop his own coaching methodology. 

In 2020, the health crisis hit the hospitality industry hard. Michael Palomo saw this setback as a golden opportunity: a chance to devote all his energy to his passion, soccer. He took on more and more gigs. From amateur clubs to sports-study programs and private lessons, nothing was too much for him. 

“It doesn’t feel like work to me—it’s a passion,” says Michael Palomo, a father. 

In January 2023, he was offered the position of head goalkeeper coach at the CF Montréal Academy. He accepted the role with joy and great pride. This allowed him to end his career in the hospitality industry and join the Academy on a full-time basis. 

Balancing family life with soccer 

Even though he’s happy as a coach, he still sometimes finds it difficult to balance his family life with his busy work schedule. Sometimes he has to travel with the team. As a father of two children, ages three and seven, that presents a challenge. 

If he were offered the opportunity to coach in professional soccer, he would be honored. However, even if that opportunity doesn’t arise, he is still very happy where he is now. He thrives on helping his students reach new heights in their athletic goals.