Almeida Takes the JDT Reins in Pursuit of a Third Crown

The appointment of Joao Almeida as JDT futsal head coach marks a new chapter in the history of the 2024 and 2025 MPFL champions.

Almeida brings a wealth of experience to the team and is highly regarded for his tactical expertise across Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern futsal leagues.

The 40-year old Portuguese had spent the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons in Indonesia coaching Unggul FC Malang in the Indonesian Pro Futsal league, guiding the team to some high scoring victories.

He was also coach of the Lebanon national team at the 2022 AFC Futsal Asian Cup.

He has also been active in research, working on scientific studies around futsal and specialising in decision making by coaches. His book entitled “From Preparation to the Decision Making Moment” underlines his desire to translate complex theory into tools that everyday coaches can use.

Born in Coimbra, Portugal, Almeida achieved early success in his career, by 25 he was coaching in Portugal’s top flight. He also became a prominent figure in university futsal. At Loughborough University in England, a campus widely regarded as one of the world’s leading sports institutions, he acted as a coordinator and mentor for the entire futsal structure.

Appointed in early 2026, Almeida will look to build on the foundations laid by former coach Juanito and secure a third successive MPFL title.

He will hope to mould a team that reflects his blend of scientific preparation and sharp game-time decisions as he starts his new journey in Malaysia.