MEET THE LINCE TEAM
At Lince, every coach is more than a trainer, they’re a mentor, a role model, and a passionate educator.
Our team combines experience, empathy and energy to help every child grow with confidence and joy.
Marcela Bianchi
Academy Founder & Technical Director
Marcela Bianchi has a strong educational and professional background from the FC Barcelona Academy (Vancouver), where she worked for three years as a Development Teams coach and two years as a High-Performance coach, gaining
in-depth experience in the application of the Barça model in both training and match contexts.
Building on this foundation, she founded Lince Football Academy in the Algarve, where
she designed and implemented the entire technical, methodological, and operational structure from the ground up. Today, Lince works with approximately 120 players aged between 3 and 10 years old. Her experience in youth development, leadership, and project implementation makes her a key figure in coordinating and driving the Lince–Inter project forward.
Carolina Milho
Head Coach and Strength & Conditioning coach
My name is Carolina Milho, and I work as a coach and strength & conditioning trainer at Lince Football Academy. I hold a degree in Sports Science from the University of Algarve and advanced training in Strength Training and Sports Injury Prevention, as well as a postgraduate specialization in Exercise and Health from the University of Évora. Sports have always been part of my life, with experience in basketball, golf, surfing and volleyball. At Lince, I aim to create a safe, positive and motivating environment where each child can grow through movement and build strong foundations for the future.
Marcus Patuzzo
Head Coach
I am a UEFA-licensed football coach who is passionate about the game, dedicated, and always eager to learn and evolve.
I see training as a structured and demanding process, where daily work, discipline, and organisation are essential for both individual and collective development. I value the holistic development of players and aim to create an environment that is both competitive and educational, built on teamwork, respect, and responsibility. I believe that, within a well-guided context, each player can grow, improve, and reach their full potential, while also contributing consistently to the success
of the group.
Marcos Ventura
Coach
Marcos David Valente Ventura, 37, was born in Lisbon and has always been closely connected to sport, particularly football. Although he completed his academic studies in music and music production, it was while living in Angola that he discovered his true vocation for teaching, founding an academy focused on the education and development of young talent. After returning to Portugal, football became the natural pathway to reconnect with education, also inspired by his son’s interest in the game. At Lince Football Academy, Marcos is dedicated to coaching, mentoring and supporting young athletes while continuing to grow as a football educator himself. His goal is to continuously deepen his expertise in football education, guided by the principle: “I insist, I persist, and I never give up.”
Iza De Oliveira
Assistant Coach
I have been part of Lince Football Academy as an intern since June of last year. Although I do not have formal education in football, I have always been passionate about the game and played for many years during my childhood. Life led me in a different direction for some time, but football has always remained close to my heart. Today, I feel truly happy and grateful to be part of this project, where I learn every day — both from the coaches and from the children. I strongly identify with the organisation, values, and environment at Lince, where there is a genuine sense of support, empathy, and willingness to teach. Being on the pitch with the children brings me joy, motivates me, and helps me grow, and it is in this environment that I see myself continuing to learn, contribute, and evolve.
Luís Rasquilha
Goalkeeper Coach
Luís Rasquilha is the Goalkeeper Coach at Lince Football Academy and Assistant Goalkeeper Coach at Internacional Club Almancil (ICA). His sporting background began in handball, which he played between the ages of 13 and 19 at Clube Estefânia, contributing to the development of coordination, discipline, and game awareness. He is also the author of the book Guardians of the Goal. He holds extensive and ongoing specialised training in goalkeeper coaching, with national and international courses completed alongside professionals and institutions of reference, including Corinthians (U13), Shakhtar Donetsk, the Ukraine National Team, NASL, MISL, and Club Atlético Unión (Argentine First Division), as well as multiple certifications from Sports Academy and NAU. His methodology is based on structure, planning, and continuous development, supporting the technical and personal growth of goalkeepers within the Lince–Inter project.
Márcio Palma
Coach
I hold a degree and a Master’s in Physical Education and a UEFA A qualification in Futsal. I began my coaching journey in youth development and, over the years, have worked in high-performance environments in both Portugal and Latvia. My daily work is focused on structured training processes, clear organisation, and adapting methodology to the players and context, always with high standards and attention to detail. Guided by values of honesty, kindness, and respect, I bring a human-centred approach to coaching that balances rigour with creativity. Curious by nature and passionate about life, I continuously seek new experiences and perspectives beyond my comfort zone, believing that personal growth, well-being, and openness to different realities directly enhance performance and leadership on the pitch.