Marco Ferruzzi (born October 15, 1970 in San Antonio, Texas) 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.

[edit] Youth

In 1987, Ferruzzi played in one game for the U.S. U-16 national team at the 1987 FIFA U-16 World Championship^[1] 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.^[2]

[edit] Professional

In 1990, he spent the collegiate off season with the San Antonio Generals in the Southwest Independent Soccer League. There is a gap in the record of Ferruzzi’s career between the completion of his collegiate career in 1992 and his joining the San Antonio Pumas of the USISL in 1994. He spent both the 1994 and 1995 season with the Pumas. In the fall of 1995, he signed with the Tampa Bay Terror of the National Professional Soccer League.^[3] 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.^[4] 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.^[5] 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.^[6] 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.^[7] 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.^[8] Ferruzzi retired following the 2004 season.

[edit] Coach

In 2004, the Dallas Burn of Major League Soccer 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.^[9]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• FC Dallas Coaching Profile