Directors
Our President/Executive Director Andre Kunz Sana is a Brazilian native from Porto Alegre, Capital of Rio Grande Do Sul State of Southern Brazil.
His passion for Foot-ball and for Grêmio FBPA started before his birth coming generation by generation of his family. His great grandfather was the Goal Keeper of Grêmio FBPA in the years of 1917/18 Seasons and one the greatest In that position by that time. He also was the founder and pioneer of the Southern Brazil Goal Keeper Academy.
Julio Kunz started his career at Novo Hamburgo Esporte Clube close to the Capital Porto Alegre, because his great skills and after an extraordinary season he joined Grêmio FBPA, he keeps growing up and after another great seasons he was invited to join Flamengo from Rio de Janeiro and the Brazilian National Team which he was in the Squad Copa America Championship 🇧🇷 1922 and he was elected by many news papers as one the best Goal Keepers in that time due his magical saves during the games.
He was not only the best GK in Southern Brazil but the whole South America.
André’s grandfather and his father were big fans of Grêmio FBPA and both were waiting for our President birth with a full Grêmio uniform hanging at the hospital door where Andre born, Hospital São Lucas PUC-RS Porto Alegre, Brazil 1981.
This same year his born Grêmio won the Brazilian National league, in 1983 when Andre was only 2 years old his father Luiz Felipe Sana took him to the stadium to watch Grêmio FBPA wins for the first time the South America Championship and the World Cup Clubs December that same year winning Hamburg from Germany.
Andre started playing the game at the age of 4 years old at Garotos de Ouro a Futsal Academy (Coach Bráulio). At the age of 6 he joined Ivo Wortmann Futebol Academy at Petrópolis club and 2 years later he joined Grêmio FBPA Youth Academy Soccer School were he was formed with complete foundation to play the game.
He also had a great great coaching staff Head Coach Luis Afonso Gomes at high school IPA – Institute Porto Alegre, Brazil.
By the age of 17 Andre started training at São José Esporte Clube Juniores and after that he got an opportunity and went to play 2DIV( Spain).
Returning to Brazil in 2007 he decided to get his degree in international business and coach career to help players follow their path to the pro level of the game with great opportunities in Brazil and abroad.
The history of his great grandfather Julio Kunz can be founded at the CBF , Brazilian Football Federation.
Andre Leads Gremio FC San Diego a 4 years, a totally different mentality of the game but with great talented players all overs USA.
The Youth Soccer Academy he just started past September 2021 which is focused in soccer players development using the same methodology as the club partner Grêmio FBPA in Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil.
Andre said that he’s so excited to bring one the most successful youth players development academy in the world which is where Ronaldinho Gaucho came from.