Marco Ferruzzi
Encyclopedia
Marco Ferruzzi is an American soccer coach who is currently the assistant coach of FC Dallas
. He had a ten year professional career playing as a midfielder
in several indoor and outdoor leagues including Major League Soccer
and the USL First Division
.
at the 1987 FIFA U-16 World Championship
In 1989, he entered the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
where he played on the men’s soccer team from 1989 to 1992.
of the USISL. He played for the Pumas through the 1995 season. In the fall of 1995, he signed with the Tampa Bay Terror
of the National Professional Soccer League. He spent only one season with the Terror before signing with the Tampa Bay Cyclones of the USISL in 1996. However, there are hints that he may have played for the Cyclones in 1995 as well. In February 1997, the Tampa Bay Mutiny
selected Ferruzzi in the first round (sixth overall) of the 1997 MLS Supplemental Draft
. He spent the 1997 season in Tampa Bay, assisting on two goals in nineteen games. The Mutiny waived Ferruzzi on November 13, 1997.
He returned to Major League Soccer
the next year after the Los Angeles Galaxy
picked him in the third round (30th overall) in the 1998 MLS Supplemental Draft
. He never played for the team before being released, but saw time in 19 games with the Charleston Battery
in the USL A-League. In 1999, Ferruzzi signed with the Richmond Kickers
, also of the USL A-League. He played four seasons in Richmond, going to the 2002 A-League championship where the Kickers fell to the Milwaukee Rampage
. On April 5, 2003, the Minnesota Thunder
acquired Ferrunnzi’s rights from the Richmond Kickers
. He played two seasons in Minnesota, going to the finals again in 2003, this time falling to his former team, the Charleston Battery
. That season, he was also named to the USL All Star team. Ferruzzi retired following the 2004 season.
hired Ferruzzi as an assistant coach. Over the years, his responsibilities have included evaluating prospective players, overseeing the reserve team, in addition to assisting in first team practices. On May 21, 2008, he was named the interim head coach after the team fired head coach Steve Morrow
. After Schellas Hyndman
was named head coach, Ferruzzi resumed his duties as assistant.
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
. He had a ten year professional career playing as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
in several indoor and outdoor leagues including Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
and the USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
.
Youth
In 1987, Ferruzzi played in one game for the U.S. U-16 national teamUnited States U-17 men's national soccer team
The United States U-17 men's national soccer team is the national under-17 association football team of the United States and is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation...
at the 1987 FIFA U-16 World Championship
1987 FIFA U-16 World Championship
The FIFA U-16 World Championship 1987 was held in the cities of Toronto, Saint John, Montreal, and St. John's in Canada between 12 July and 25 July 1987...
In 1989, he entered the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
where he played on the men’s soccer team from 1989 to 1992.
Professional
In 1990, he spent the collegiate off season with the San Antonio Generals in the Southwest Independent Soccer League. In 1993, Ferruzzi turned professional when he signed with the San Antonio PumasSan Antonio Pumas
The San Antonio Pumas were an American soccer team founded in 1988 as the San Antonio Heat in the original indoor SISL league. They became the San Antonio Generals before the 1989/90 indoor season and then the San Antonio Pumas before the 1993 outdoor season...
of the USISL. He played for the Pumas through the 1995 season. In the fall of 1995, he signed with the Tampa Bay Terror
Tampa Bay Terror
The Tampa Bay Terror were an indoor soccer team based in Tampa Bay, Florida that competed in the defunct National Professional Soccer League . The team existed for two seasons before folding: 1995-1996 and 1996-1997. The team's home games were held at the Bayfront Center. The two season that the...
of the National Professional Soccer League. He spent only one season with the Terror before signing with the Tampa Bay Cyclones of the USISL in 1996. However, there are hints that he may have played for the Cyclones in 1995 as well. In February 1997, the Tampa Bay Mutiny
Tampa Bay Mutiny
The Tampa Bay Mutiny was a charter franchise of Major League Soccer active from 1996 - 2001. They initially played in Tampa Stadium and were immediately successful, winning the first MLS Supporters' Shield behind MLS MVP Carlos Valderrama and high-scoring forward Roy Lassiter, whose 27 goals in...
selected Ferruzzi in the first round (sixth overall) of the 1997 MLS Supplemental Draft
1997 MLS Supplemental Draft
The 1997 Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft was held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on February 2, 1997.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-External links:*...
. He spent the 1997 season in Tampa Bay, assisting on two goals in nineteen games. The Mutiny waived Ferruzzi on November 13, 1997.
He returned to Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
the next year after the Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
picked him in the third round (30th overall) in the 1998 MLS Supplemental Draft
1998 MLS Supplemental Draft
The three-round 1998 Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft was held on February 1, 1998 at the Airport Hilton in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.-Format:Major League Soccer held a professional player combine in Fort Lauderdale the last week of January 1998. On Saturday, January 31, 1998, the league held...
. He never played for the team before being released, but saw time in 19 games with the Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery is an American professional soccer team based in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
in the USL A-League. In 1999, Ferruzzi signed with the Richmond Kickers
Richmond Kickers
The Richmond Kickers are an American professional soccer club based in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
, also of the USL A-League. He played four seasons in Richmond, going to the 2002 A-League championship where the Kickers fell to the Milwaukee Rampage
Milwaukee Rampage
The Milwaukee Rampage is a defunct American soccer franchise, which played in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the A-League. The Rampage folded in 2002 because of financial problems, despite winning the A-league championship that year, as well as in 1997. The Rampage was founded in 1994 as a member of the...
. On April 5, 2003, the Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder was an American professional soccer team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 1990, the team played in the USL First Division , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009. The team played its home games at the National Sports Center in nearby...
acquired Ferrunnzi’s rights from the Richmond Kickers
Richmond Kickers
The Richmond Kickers are an American professional soccer club based in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
. He played two seasons in Minnesota, going to the finals again in 2003, this time falling to his former team, the Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery is an American professional soccer team based in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
. That season, he was also named to the USL All Star team. Ferruzzi retired following the 2004 season.
Coach
In 2004, the Dallas Burn of Major League SoccerMajor League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
hired Ferruzzi as an assistant coach. Over the years, his responsibilities have included evaluating prospective players, overseeing the reserve team, in addition to assisting in first team practices. On May 21, 2008, he was named the interim head coach after the team fired head coach Steve Morrow
Steve Morrow
Stephen Joseph "Steve" Morrow is a Northern Irish former football player. He is currently International Partnerships Performance Supervisor at Arsenal Football Club, where he also played for much of the 1990s.-Playing career:...
. After Schellas Hyndman
Schellas Hyndman
Schellas Hyndman is an American former soccer player. He is currently the head coach of FC Dallas in Major League Soccer.Despite having a limited career as a professional athlete, Hyndman is one of the most successful college soccer coaches in American sports history, compiling a 466-122-49 record...
was named head coach, Ferruzzi resumed his duties as assistant.