You just can’t go wrong channeling Michael Jordan. Even in a sport that’s not basketball. Camilla Orlando is the new addition to the SE Palmeiras organization. A lot has been discussed since she was appointed as the coach of the Palmeiras women’s soccer team in Brazil. Coach Orlando said she’s going to use the lessons she learned during a stint in the USA, including from the culture surrounding His Airness.
“The United States has strengthened me a lot about a winning mentality, because the Americans have had this understanding for a long time, with Michael Jordan. There are several other players that we can mention, but he caught my attention,” she said in an interview to a Portuguese publication.
Orlando amassed expansive experience before coming to Palmeiras while working in the US and UAE. She’s hailed as part of a new generation of coaches in soccer. MJ’s famous quote about failure is one of Orlando’s driving points.
“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed,” the Black Cat once said. We’ve all been inspired by that one. This was the narration that went with Jordan’s 1997 Nike commercial, but it became more influential than a mere promotional dialogue.
Camilla Orlando’s MJ Approach
Camilla Orlando has had a front-row seat to winning culture throughout her career. She was on organizing committees of the FIFA World Cup in 2008 and 2014. The US Embassy partnered with Partners of The America in 2014-15 and had Orlando lead the mentorship program, Project Sport for Community. UAE FA hired her as the Women NT Head Coach in Dubai from 2021 and 2023.
She’s travelled to different countries as a soccer rep while spending a decade as the owner, president and manager of the Capital Feminina FC Brazil. She’s also the owner and namesake of her own football academy since 2017.
Upon her return to Sao Paolo, SE Palmeiras got her on board this month. In this role, she hopes to bring Michael Jordan’s philosophy, goals, commitment, and grit to overcome obstacles to her team. With the Palmeiras going through a restructure, she has her work cut out for her. But the MJ approach is definitely the way to go.
