Head of Scouting, KAI Football

Gleison Santos is a seasoned professional in the global football industry, with a distinguished career that spans professional playing, talent development, strategic management, and international football investments.

A former professional player, Gleison built a successful career representing prominent clubs such as Vasco da Gama FC (Brazil), Atalanta BC, AC Monza, Albinoleffe, Genoa CFC, and Reggina Calcio (Italy), as well as Skoda Xanthi FC (Greece). This extensive international experience laid the foundation for his transition into the executive and strategic side of the sport.

After retiring from the field, Gleison focused on advancing his expertise in football operations and strategic management. He had the opportunity to acquire in-depth knowledge of player development and management methodologies with FC Barcelona, one of the most influential clubs in the world. Leveraging this experience, he successfully facilitated a strategic partnership between FC Barcelona and Hellas Verona FC.

In addition to this achievement, Gleison has provided advisory and consultancy services to several European and South American clubs, specializing in player acquisition strategies, market intelligence, investment opportunities, and portfolio diversification within the football ecosystem.

Most notably, he served as Scout and Strategic Advisor for a U.S.-based investment fund owning Spezia Calcio (Italy) and Casa Pia AC (Portugal), where he delivered significant results in talent identification, asset valuation, and cross-border investment strategy.