Michael Palomo: a passionate soccer coach 

By Emmanuelle Champagne

Soccer has held a place in the heart of Michael Palomo, head goalkeeping coach at the Montreal CF Academy, since childhood. Originally from France, the head coach developed a keen interest in soccer at an early age. At the age of 11, he joined the renowned soccer club Association sportive de Cannes. He played soccer with the club until the age of 19.

Not having been signed to become a professional soccer player, he decided to take off and travel the world. England, Asia, the West Indies and Boston are the places where he was able to recharge his batteries and really get to know himself as a person, not just a soccer player. 

Sports have always been a priority in Michael Palomo's daily life, and have been ever since he was a child. So he needed to know who he was outside the soccer field. 

"I needed to find out who I really was, have a different routine and build myself up in a way other than as a soccer player," confides Michael Palomo.  

His quest for identity ended here, in Montreal. At the age of 23, he met the future mother of his two children. Until the age of 32, he worked in the hotel business in Montreal. However, soccer once again occupied his thoughts. It was then that he began attending soccer games, such as those presented by CF Montréal.

When passion still dwells in the heart

It's not enough for him to sit back and watch the soccer players on TV or in the field. He wanted to reconnect with his passion on the field. So he started coaching in amateur circles. 

With a distinguished CV at his fingertips, he was soon inundated with interesting offers. He started out in the semi-professional Ligue 1 du Québec (formerly known as the Premier Ligue de Soccer du Québec/PLSQ), and coached the Redbirds at McGill University. He fell in love with the role of educator. He took several online training courses to develop his own coaching methodology.

In 2020, the health crisis hit the hotel industry hard. Michael Palomo sees this obstacle as a golden opportunity: to devote all his energies to his passion, soccer. He multiplies his contracts. Amateur clubs, sport-study programs, private lessons: nothing is too much for him. 

"I don't feel like I'm working, it's a passion," reveals father Michael Palomo. 

In January 2023, he was offered the position of head goalkeeping coach at the CF Montreal academy. He took up the position with great pride and joy. He could put an end to his career in the hotel business to join the Academy on a permanent basis. 

Balancing family life and soccer 

Although he is happy as a coach, he sometimes finds it difficult to combine his family life with his busy work schedule. Sometimes he has to go on trips with the team. As the father of two children, aged three and seven, this is a challenge. 

If he were given the opportunity to coach in the world of professional soccer, he would be honored. However, if the opportunity doesn't present itself, he remains fulfilled where he is now. He thrives on the aspect of propelling his students higher in their sporting goal(s).